Reproductive cycle of Bolinus brandaris (Gastropoda: Muricidae) in the Ria Formosa lagoon (southern Portugal)

Abstract

The purple dye murex Bolinus brandaris is a commercially valuable gastropod in Portugal. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the reproductive cycle in Atlantic populations of this species. In this context, the reproductive cycle of B. brandaris from the Ria Formosa lagoon, southern Portugal, was studied using standard histology and light microscopy and the calculation of bio-physiological indices (gonadosomatic indices for both sexes, penial index for males and capsule gland indices for females). Monthly variation in gonad developmental stages and biophysiological indices revealed that B. brandaris has an annual reproductive cycle, long gonadal activity and a relatively short resting phase. Spawning occurred mainly between May and July, with a clear spawning peak from June to July. Gonad maturation and spawning appear to be synchronised with the seasonal variation in seawater temperature. Slight asynchrony between the peak of male gamete release and the peak of female spawning might be interpreted as a modality to increase the reproductive success. The timing of spawning was compared with analogous information available for other regions throughout the species distributional range. The present study provides baseline information for proposing fishery management measures, particularly a closed season in the fishing or harvesting activity during the spawning peak of B. brandaris aimed at protecting the female broodstock and collective spawns. The overall results from the bio-physiological indices (especially the penial index and the area-based gonadosomatic and capsule gland indices) encourage the adoption of similar approaches with other gastropod species, namely in routine analyses that do not require a detailed histological description. KEY WORDS: Purple dye murex · Gonad histology · Bio-physiological indices · Gametogenic cycle · Spawning season · Fisheries managementResale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher Aquat Biol 16: 69-83, 2012 Both species are harvested in the Medi terranean Sea and in the Atlantic Ocean, especially in Spain (Martín et al. 1995, Anonymous 2001 and Portugal (Vasconcelos et al. 2008a).Historically, Bolinus brandaris has been a valuable species since the time of the Roman Empire, when it was caught (among other muricid gastropods) for extracting the purple dye (Spanier & Karmon 1987). Nowadays, B. brandaris is fished for human consumption by using diverse types of artisanal fishing gears (Poppe & Goto 1991, Houart 2001. This occurs mainly in Spain (Martín et al. 1995, Anonymous 2001, Mallol et al. 2004 and Portugal (Vasconcelos et al. 2008a), but also in France (Bartolome 1985), Italy (Ramón & Amor 2001, Cecalupo et al. 2006, Greece (Katsanevakis et al. 2011) and occasionally in Turkey and Tunisia (Ramón & Flos 2001). In Portugal, B. brandaris is fished along the Algarve coast, mainly in the Ria Formosa lagoon, as it is a greatly appreciated seafood with high demand and value in the local seafood markets (reaching prices around 20 t...

Associated fauna and effects of epibiotic barnacles on the relative growth and reproductive indices of <em>Stramonita haemastoma</em> (Gastropoda: Muricidae)

“…Vasconcelos et al (2008) and Elhasni et al (2010) recommended the use of two indices (GAI and CGI) and considered them simple, practical and efficient for the routine assessment of reproductive activity in a sympatric muricid (H. trunculus). Abidli et al (2012), Vasconcelos et al (2012) and Elhasni et al (2013) confirmed these findings in analogous studies with another sympatric muricid (B. brandaris). Usually, differences in the reproductive cycle are explained by variation in seawater temperature (Lahbib et al 2009, Abidli et al 2012.…”

Temporal Variations in Abundance and Species Richness of Zooplankton with Emphasis on Ichthyoplankton in the Subtidal Waters of Umm Al-Namil Island, Northwestern Arabian Gulf of the ROPME Sea Area

“…This could also be applicable on planktonic bivalves encountered in this study but needs further and detailed examination, especially in relation to season and reproductive development around Umm Al-Namil Island and Kuwait coastal waters in general. As for gastropods, the spawning season for Bolinus brandaris (Family: Muricidae) was reported to be between May and July with a clear spawning peak from June to July in Ria Formosa Lagoon in Southern Portugal (Vasconcelos et al, 2012). In this study, Indothais lacera (Family: Muricidae) were observed with eggs on rocks in the intertidal zone of Umm Al-Namil Island on 27 May 2017 (event 9); suggesting spawning period, that could most probably be the start of it, however, this needs further and detailed examination, especially in relation to season and reproductive development for various gastropods to compare in details with the planktonic stages around Umm Al-Namil Island and Kuwait coastal waters in general.…”

Reproductive cycle of Hexaplex princeps (Broderip, 1833) from one artisanal fishery at the southern coast of Mexico

“…The reproduction of members of the Muricidae family (at which H. princeps belongs) has been studied in several instances: the gonad cycle of Bolinus brandaris at the South of Portugal (Vasconcelos et al, 2012) and at the South of Tunez (Elhasni et al, 2013). In the Gulf of California, Mexico, Cudney-Bueno et al (2008) carried out observations on the oviposition of the "Black murex" H. nigritus whose findings were similar to those made before by Wolfson (1968) for H. erythrostomus.…”