predominantemente de adultos, como resultado de una aparente distribución diferencial por talla/edad de la especie. La proporción sexual fue 1:1. Las hembras presentaron un crecimiento alométrico y los machos, isométrico. De acuerdo con el análisis morfocromático de las gónadas, la época de reproducción es en abril-mayo y octubre-noviembre, aunque los machos presentan madurez durante periodos más amplios. El IGS sí es un buen indicador de la época de reproducción de S. annulatus, mientras que el Kn muestra una tendencia a disminuir durante el periodo de reproducción.

The reproduction of any fish species may be influenced by environmental factors, knowledge of which is required for an adequate control of the reproductive process to improve culture practices. Thus, the reproduction of a wild population of bullseye puffer, Sphoeroides annulatus (Jenyns, 1842), and the influence of temperature, photoperiod, lunar cycle and tide level were analyzed. Ovarian ripeness is asynchronous, and the ovary may ripen again at least once following spawning. Testes also display an asynchronous ripeness, but once sexual maturity is attained, spermatozoa are continually produced and released. The reproduction is highly seasonal, with an intense spawning period during the spring-summer, when the sea surface temperature is 22.5-30.9°C and a 11-14 h photoperiod. The observations suggest that the timing of spawning is synchronized by a semi-lunar cycle together with the rise of the average tide level. Size at first maturation was similar for females (28.2 cm TL) and males (28.6 cm TL). However, some specimens may start their gonad maturation when are as small as 19 cm TL.

The gonadal health status of the chocolate clam Megapitaria squalida collected from the Santa Rosalía mining port and San Lucas beach (reference site), Gulf of California, Mexico, was assessed through histological analysis of the reproductive tissue, from which the histopathological alteration index (HAI) was determined. In addition, copper and iron accumulation in tissue was revealed using histochemical techniques. Our results showed a large presence of copper (30%) and iron (45%) only in the gonad tissue of clams from Santa Rosalía, in which histopathological alterations observed were inflammatory responses, degenerative-progressive processes, cell death, and response to infectious agents. The HAI was significantly higher in Santa Rosalía specimens (mean ± SE, 72.18 ± 6.12) than in San Lucas clams (4.60 ± 1.07). At San Lucas beach, a higher prevalence of histopathological alterations occurred in clams in the spent stage (43.2%) and in autumn (18.4%) and winter (17.8%) in concordance with the normal reproductive rest period, whereas at Santa Rosalía a higher prevalence occurred in clams at the ripe stage (76.9%) and in spring (83.7%). In conclusion, our results showed the deteriorated health condition of gonads in M. squalida from the Santa Rosalía mining port, which suggests there is a relationship with chronic exposure to local high levels of heavy metals. The high prevalence and intensity of histopathological alterations in the gonad suggest a strong adverse effect on gametogenesis, gamete quality, and, ultimately, in the reproductive potential of M. squalida at this site.

Se estableció el ciclo reproductivo del pargo lunarejo Lutjanus guttatus, un pez de gran importancia comercial. Los organismos se recolectaron mensualmente desde febrero de 1993 a diciembre de 1994. La proporción de sexos poblacional fue de 1M:0.96H y no se encontró una diferencia significativa (P≤0,05) de la proporción esperada de 1:1. Las gónadas se analizaron histológicamente y se describieron las fases de desarrollo gonadal. L. guttatus presenta un desarrollo asincrónico de las gónadas y es un desovador parcial. La actividad reproductiva estuvo presente todo el año aunque con dos períodos reproductivos principales (marzo-abril y agosto-noviembre) representados por altos porcentajes de gónadas categorizadas como maduras y en desove. Estos períodos coinciden con valores elevados del índice gonadosomático (IGS) y valores bajos del índice hepatosomático (IH). El factor de condición (FC) presentó una tendencia similar a la del IGS con los máximos valores durante la época de reproducción y disminuyendo hacia las épocas de reposo. Se considera que el IGS representa adecuadamente la actividad reproductiva y que puede haber una relación inversa entre la actividad reproductiva y el IH.

The fishery for octopus in Northwest Mexico has increased to over 2,000 tons annually, but to date the specific composition of the catch has been ignored. With at least three main species targeted by artisanal fisheries in the region with distinct life histories, the lack of basic biological information about the distribution, metapopulation size and structure of each species could impede effective fisheries management to avoid overexploitation. We tested if different life histories of three species of octopus could help predict observed patterns of genetic diversity, population dynamics, structure and connectivity and how this information could be relevant to the sustainable management of the fishery. We sequenced two mitochondrial genes and genotyped seven nuclear microsatellite loci to identify the distribution of each species in 20 locations from the Gulf of California and the west coast of the Baja California peninsula. We tested five hypotheses derived from population genetic theory based on differences in the fecundity and dispersal potential for each species. We discovered that Octopus bimaculoides with low fecundity and direct development (without a planktonic phase) had lower average effective population size and genetic diversity, but higher levels of kinship, population structure, and richness of private alleles, than the other two species. These features indicated limited dispersal and high local recruitment. In contrast, O. bimaculatus and O. hubbsorum with higher fecundity and planktonic phase as paralarvae had higher effective population size and genetic diversity, and overall lower kinship and population structure than O. bimaculoides. These observations supported higher levels of gene flow over a larger geographical scale. O. bimaculatus with the longest planktonic paralarval duration and therefore larger dispersal potential had differences in the calculated parameters possibly associated with increased connectivity. We propose O. bimaculoides is more susceptible to over exploitation of small, isolated populations and could have longer recovery times than the other two species. This species may benefit from distinct fishery management within each local population. O. bimaculatus and O. hubbsorum may benefit from fishery management that takes into account metapopulation structure over larger geographic scales and the directionality and magnitude of larval dispersal driven by ocean currents and population connectivity among individuals of each locality. The distribution of each species and variations in their reproductive phenology is also important to consider when establishing marine reserves or seasonal fishing closures.