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Abstract

The reproductive behaviour of four intertidal and two subtidal mussel populations were investigated within two spatial scales at Ninety Mile Beach, northern New Zealand, where large quantities of seed mussels are collected for aquaculture. Reproductive cycles were compared between intertidal and subtidal populations and among intertidal populations along a 90-km coastal area. Histological sections of mussel gonads were used to identify the reproductive state of individual mussels collected monthly between July 1998 and April 2000. Gonad indices were calculated for populations each month at each site. Frequency distributions of different gametogenic stages were plotted and differences in reproductive cycle among populations were identified. Mussel shell sizes were also recorded and compared among populations. Although all intertidal and subtidal populations had similar temporal variations in reproductive behaviour, spatial patterns among various sites revealed clear differences in reproductive cycles among populations. In particular, mussel shell size and gonad indices were higher for subtidal sites compared to their intertidal counterparts. Among intertidal mussel populations, the northernmost population had the highest maximum shell length, gonad indices and percentage ripe and spawning individuals, followed by two populations at the southern end of Ninety Mile Beach. A small mid-beach mussel population had the smallest mussels with the lowest gonad indices and few spawning mussels during the reproductive season. A prolonged spawning period was observed within the most reproductively active populations (two subtidal populations at the south end and one intertidal population at the north end of the beach) between June and December. However, the reproductive cycle of two intertidal populations at the south end of the beach indicated 2-3 spawning events during the same period. Differences in mussel shell size and reproductive behaviour among sites are likely to be related to variations in environmental conditions along Ninety Mile Beach. M R 0 3 0 0 7 M u s s e l r e p r o d u c t i o n C . A l f a r o e t a l .

A Review of the Green Mussel <i>Perna viridis</i> Fishery of South West Coast of India

“…In P. viridis, major spawning occurs during June to September with settlement from August to December. Spatial variation in size specific reproductive output could also have important consequences for recruitment as has been described for P. canaliculus and M. californianus (Alfaro et al, 2003;Phillips, 2007). Settlement occurs at low intensities throughout the year and intense settlement occurs during post monsoon (Kuriakose et al, 1984;Hunt and Scheibling, 1996).…”

“…Reproductive behavior of the green lipped mussel P. canaliculus has been described by Buchanan (2001) and Alfaro et al (2001Alfaro et al ( , 2003. Settlement and recruitment patterns in Mytilus galloprovincialis and M. canaliculus have been detailed by Peteiro et al (2007) and Phillips (2007).…”

Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Microanalysis ofPerna canaliculusMussel Larvae Adhesive Secretion

“…Other studies carried out by Buchanan and Babcock [8] found that the Greenshell TM Perna canaliculus mussel goes through two settlement phases, as postulated in Bayne's primarysecondary settlement model. In more recent studies, Alfaro and Jeffs [9] observed that P. canaliculus mussel larvae undergo transition from planktonic to sessile life during their primary settlement, then metamorphosing into juveniles. Free-floating macroalgae were thought to be the substrates on which the larval primary settlement occurs, also providing transportation towards rocky shores [10].…”

Reproductive Biology and Ecology of the Green Mussel Perna viridis: A Multidisciplinary Approach

“…Previous studies exposed that the spawning of mussels is largely influenced by temperature, salinity, and food availability [20,21]. Moreover, habitat was also found to influence the reproduction of mussels, where subtidal population had consistently higher gonad indices and prolonged reproductive maturity compared to the intertidal population [22].…”