Biochemical Changes during the Reproductive Cycle of Haliotis fulgens (Philippi, 1845) (Gastropoda: Archaeogastropoda) on the Baja California sur West Coast

This article describes the changes in the concentration of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates in the gonad, digestive gland, foot and mantle of Haliotis fulgens over a reproductive cycle. An average of 30 specimens was collected each month between September 2011 and August 2013 from La Bocana, Baja California Sur, Mexico. The biometrics of each specimen were recorded, and gonads were processed using a standard histological method. Additionally, from February 2012 to February 2013, portions of nonfixed organs were frozen at -54°C for use in proximal analyses. This species showed gonadal development and spawning throughout the study period, with a peak in spawning from September through February, coinciding with sea surface temperatures near 20°C and the beginning of the decline in daylight. This study demonstrates that this species utilizes proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates stored in the foot during gonadal development and that lipid levels decrease in both the digestive gland and the gonad during spawning.