Gonad morphology and reproductive cycle of the mangrove oyster Crassostrea brasiliana (Lamarck, 1819) in the baía de Guaratuba, Paraná, Brazil

Abstract

This study aimed to describe the gonadal histology and the reproductive cycle of Crassostrea brasiliana in the mangroves of Guaratuba Bay in southern Brazil. Adults were collected monthly from January 2010 to April 2011 from three sampling sites in intertidal oyster beds. The animals were evaluated using biometric and histological analyses of the gonads. The gonadal tissue samples were processed according to the standard histological procedures, and permanent slides were prepared using Harris' haematoxylin and eosin. The oysters were identified at the species level using a molecular protocol. Females (69%) predominated over males (26%), with 4% indeterminate and 1% hermaphroditic. Mature females were more prevalent in February, March and December 2010 and in March 2011. Mature males were more prevalent in February and April 2010 and in March 2011. The presence of hermaphroditic individuals was sporadic, and oysters in immature stages or sexual repose were observed in only a few collections between the months of May and October 2010. The reproduction of C. brasiliana in Guaratuba Bay occurs intermittently, but with greater intensity during the summer, with a larger number of females produced.

Influence of gonadal development on metal accumulation in the Portuguese oyster,Crassostrea angulata,in subtropical areas

“…This constant reproductive pattern has also been found in other Crassostrea spp., in subtropical and tropical areas, showing significant differences to the pattern of oysters in temperate regions. (Baqueiro‐Cárdenas et al, ; Castilho‐Westphal et al, ; Lenz & Boehs, ; Vaschenko, Hsieh, & Radashevsky, ). The reproductive period of mollusks living in temperate and cold climates is seasonal, the frequency of reproductive activity increases as latitude decreases (Baqueiro, ).…”

“…The allometrics may be related to the changes in organizational structure. During gonadal development, small acini interspersed with a large quantity of storage connective tissue develop into large and juxtaposed acini without interstitial tissue (Castilho‐Westphal et al, ). In this process, the varieties of tissue structure and biochemical compositions may lead to the change of metal accumulation rate.…”

“…However, there are other patterns in the gonadal development of oysters. Oysters living in some subtropical and tropical sea areas reproduce constantly; there are multiple reproductive cycles per year, gametogenesis is fast, the spawning extended and gonads recover quickly after spawning; all gonadal development stages are present throughout the year in one population (Baqueiro‐Cárdenas, Aldana‐Aranda, Sevilla, & Rodríguez‐Espinosa, ; Castilho‐Westphal, Magnani, & Ostrensky, ; George‐Zamora, Sevilla‐Hernández, & Aldana‐Aranda, ). These can cause significant differences in the stages of gonadal development of individual oysters collected at the same time.…”

Reproduction of the introduced oyster Crassostrea gigas (Bivalvia: Ostreidae) cultured on rafts in Spain

“…In his study of gonadal development in bivalve molluscs, Lubet () was one of the first to propose a gametogenic scale for Mytilus edulis (Linnaeus, 1758). There are now various reproductive classifications for various species, which are based on qualitative (Berthelin et al., ; Castilho‐Westphal, Magnani, & Ostrensky, ; Dinamani, ; Steele & Mulcahy, ) and quantitative criteria (Bodoy, Prou, & Berthome, ; Delgado & Pérez Camacho, ; Lango‐Reynoso, Chávez‐Villalba, Cochard, & Le Pennec, ).…”

Oyster culture on the Amazon mangrove coast: asymmetries and advances in an emerging sector

“…However, such small-scale units, largely aided by government incentives, have greatly contributed to the dissemination of native mangrove oyster culture along the Brazilian coast (Pereira & Rocha 2012). Crassostrea gasar has been cultivated on a small-scale in south-eastern and southern Brazil for some time now (Muniz et al 1986;Absher et al 2000;Christo & Absher 2006), and there has been a recent surge in research on its culture, especially in Santa Catarina and Paran a (Silveira et al 2011;Lopes et al 2013;Ramos et al 2013Ramos et al , 2014Gomes et al 2014;Tureck et al 2014;Castilho-Westphal et al 2015;Silva et al 2015). Yet, overall production of the mangrove oyster C. gasar remains low, perpetuating the asymmetry in Brazilian oyster production.…”