Histological changes in the gonad of the blacklip pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera Linnaeus, 1758) during the reproductive season in north Queensland, Australia

	Molluscan ResearchISSN 1323-5818
	An international journal of the Malacological Society of Australasia published by Magnolia Press

Molluscan Research 25(2): 71-74; published 31 August 2005
Copyright © The Malacological Society of Australasia
Histological changes in the gonad of the blacklip pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera Linnaeus, 1758) during the reproductive season in north Queensland, Australia

HECTOR ACOSTA-SALMON & PAUL C. SOUTHGATE
Pearl Oyster Research Group, School of Marine Biology & Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia. Email: Hector.AcostaSalmon@graduates.jcu.edu.au

Abstract

Histological changes in the gonad of cultured blacklip pearl oysters (Pinctada margaritifera) were studied during the main reproductive season. Collection of oysters from culture stock held at Magnetic Island and Orpheus Island, north Queensland, was conducted between August 2003 and February 2004 and oysters from each site were collected every month. Samples of gonad tissue from the oysters were processed for histological analysis. The sex ratio of oysters at both sites was skewed towards males. Active gonad development was recorded in all months during the study. Results of this study indicate that reproduction of P. margaritifera at Orpheus Island and Magnetic Island is a continuous process between August and February, as shown by the presence of ripe and partially spawned oysters during the majority of this period.

Key words: Sex ratio, gonad development, spawning

Full article (PDF; 170 KB)

Related series by publisher
	Zootaxa: Mollusca Taxonomic papers and monographs on Mollusca from all over the world

Published : 31 August 2005