Reproductive traits and relative gonad expenditure of the sexes of the free spawning Chiton articulatus (Mollusca: Polyplacophora)

Quetzalli Yasu Abadia-Chanona, Omar Hernando Avila-Poveda, Marcial Arellano-Martinez, Bertha Patricia Ceballos-Vazquez, Francisco Benitez-Villalobos, Geoff A. Parker, Guillermo Rodriguez-Dominguez, Sergio Garcia-Ibañez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Reproductive studies of an intertidal free-spawning population of Chiton articulatus (Mollusca: Polyplacophora) from Puerto Angel, Oaxaca, Mexico were undertaken during 2011. We used gonad histology and gonadal indices to assess the relative gonad expenditure of the sexes (RGES) and other reproductive traits, accounting for individual and seasonal variation within this population. At this location, C. articulatus is gonochoric, without sexual dimorphism, except internally by gonad colour (testis is ‘salmon’ coloured and ovary olive green). Annual and monthly sex ratios (m/f) do not differ significantly from 1:1. Highest population-level gonadosomatic index (GSI) corresponded to maximum (peak) ripe stage (i.e. maximum gonad investment), with a first peak in May with a high value (8.4 ± 0.5) and a second peak during August-September with a lower value (4.7 ± 0.3). GSI fluctuated throughout year implying that gonad expenditure may be seasonally constrained, but with overall synchrony between sexes of ripe and spawning stages. July to December was the main reproductive season with some facultative spawning occurring off-season. Ripe and spawning RGES did not differ between sexes, suggesting that either sperm competition is intense and/or that sperm limitation is high. Early spawning individuals may quickly replenish their gametes for a second phase of gamete release later.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)268-289
Number of pages22
JournalInvertebrate Reproduction and Development
Volume62
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Broadcast-spawning
  • Gonadosomatic index
  • Invertebrate harvesting
  • Mexican tropical pacific
  • Sperm competition
  • Sperm limitation

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