Imposex affects spawning in the marine gastropod Buccinanops globulosus

PRIMOST, M.A.; AVERBUJ, A.; BIGATTI, G.

Revista del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales n.s.

Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2015 vol. 17

1514-5158

*CORRESPONDING AUTHOR DE ESTE TRABAJO.The aim of this work was to study the reproductive output and imposex parameters of the caenogastropod Buccinanops globulosus (Kiener, 1834) (Nassariidae) inhabiting a harbour area, with high maritime traffic and pollution. While 89 %of the females carrying egg capsules showed imposex conditions,100 % of the non-ovigerous females were affected. Among imposex-affected females, mean penis size was significantly larger in non-ovigerous (3.4 mm) than in ovigerous (1.5 mm)females. Though a single juvenile usually hatches from each egg capsule of normal B. globulosus, a noticeable proportion of capsules with multiple embryos were found in this study. Our results suggest a relationship between imposex development and alterations on there productive output of B. globulosus females living in adverse environmental conditions (polluted area).