Análisis espacio temporal de la biología reproductiva y el reclutamiento del molusco bivalvo Anadara tuberculosa en la costa del Pacífico colombiano Abstract.-The reproductive cycle, recruitment and maturity size of the mangrove cockle Anadara tuberculosa was studied between August 2009 and August 2010 at the 4 departments of the Colombian Pacific coast. Biological samples were collected on three 50 m 2 plots of each region following the traditional method of capture. To determine the state of sexual development, monthly macro and microscopy (using standard histological techniques) observations were performed. The reproductive cycle was divided in 4 stages, resting, development, maturity and spawning. Spawning events were evident throughout the study period, with higher reproductive activity between December and March, and a second short event between June and August. The average maturity size (46.68 ± 9.29 mm) and mean first maturity size (43.50 mm) are below the minimum legal size of capture (50.00 mm) in Colombia. Temporal variation of reproductive activity and recruitment shows no evidence of sexual maturity synchrony in the Colombian Pacific, important for the establishment of management strategies of the resource. Three percent of hermaphroditism was found which is considered protandric due to the imbalance of sex ratio between females and males (2.46:1) and size difference between sexes.Key words: Mangrove cockle, size of sexual maturity, living mass weight, hermaphroditism, sexual synchronyResumen.-Se estudió el ciclo reproductivo, reclutamiento y tallas de madurez de la piangua Anadara tuberculosa entre agosto de 2009 y agosto de 2010 en cuatro departamentos de la costa Pacífica colombiana. Se realizaron muestreos biológicos en 3 parcelas de 50 m 2 para cada región, siguiendo la metodología tradicional de captura. Para determinar el estado de desarrollo sexual, mensualmente se realizaron observaciones macroscópicas e histología rutinaria. Para el análisis reproductivo se definieron los estados de reposo, desarrollo, madurez y desove. Eventos de desove fueron evidentes durante todo el tiempo de estudio, con mayor actividad reproductiva entre diciembre y marzo, y otro evento corto entre junio y agosto. En términos generales, las tallas medias de madurez sexual (46,68 ± 9,29 mm) y de primera madurez (43,50 mm), están por debajo de la talla mínima legal de captura (50,00 mm) en Colombia. La variación temporal de la actividad reproductiva y del reclutamiento, muestra que no se presenta una sincronía de madurez sexual evidente en el Pacífico colombiano, lo cual es información importante para establecer estrategias de manejo del recurso. Se presentó el 3% de hermafroditismo, considerado protándrico, debido a las diferencias en proporción sexual entre hembras y machos (2,46:1) y a la diferencia de tallas entre sexos.Palabras clave: Piangua, talla de madurez sexual, rendimiento de carne, hermafroditismo, sincronía sexual

The abundance and sexual maturity of piangua Anadara similis in La Plata Archipelago, Bahía Málaga, Pacific coast of Colombia, was analyzed between September 2009 and August 2010. Sexual maturity of these organisms was studied at macroscopic level using fresh samples and at microscopic level using standard histological techniques. The mean density was estimated in 0.130 ± 0.098 ind/m2 and the mean size was 42.30 ± 5.00 mm. Months with the presence of the highest densities of piangua were May (0.295 ind/m2) and August (0.195 ind/m2). The mean sexual maturity size was estimated in 41.8 ± 4.5 mm, while the size at which at least 50% of the population of A. similis have had its first spawn was estimated in 41 mm. Reproductive activity of the species was present year-round with higher peaks in March (83.33%) and April (75.00%). 4.30% of organisms analyzed showed signs of hermaphroditism, being this the first record of this kind for the species. Higher density, larger mean size, higher meat yield in females as well as the presence of more female reproductive tissue, suggest a process of sexual reversion in the species, which have to be further studied. Low capture and sexual maturity sizes, as well as the low density of organisms found during the present work, might be the product of high fishery pressure, habitat modifications, and pollution processes in the area, factors that have to be studied in detail in order to implement management strategies for the species.