Reproductive cycle of the stout razor clam, Tagelus plebeius (Lightfoot, 1786), in the Mar Chiquita Coastal Lagoon, Argentina.

CLEDON, M.; PERALTA-BRICHTOVA, A. C.; PENCHASZADEH, P. E.; JORGE LUIS CEFERINO GUTIERREZ

JOURNAL OF SHELLFISH RESEARCH

Año: 2004 p. 1 - 1

0730-8000

A population of the dioecious euryhaline bivalve, Tagelus plebeius, living in the Mar Chiquita Lagoon (37º 40'S, 57º 26'W) exhibits an annual gonad cycle. Spawning occurs during the austral spring and summer (October to March) and is dependent on water temperature. Two reproductive modes were observed during consecutive years: partial spawning events in December 1999 to January 2000 and at the end of March 2000, and one continuous spawning event in October 2000 to March 2001. Mature oocytes measured 75-95 mum. At the end of the spawning events there was a sharp drop in body weight, indicating that body mass is determined by gonad status.