Depositions of Egg Capsules by Female Shell Heights and Comparisons of Sizes at 50% of Group Sexual Maturities of the Female Rapa Whelk Rapana venosa in Three Different Salinity Concentration Regions

Abstract

We investigated fecundities in egg capsules and sizes at 50% of group sexual maturities in female Rapana venosa in three different salinity concentration regions (S-1, S-2, and S-3). In three different salinities, egg capsule heights, the number of egg capsules and the number of eggs and embryos were remarkably increased with the increase of female shell heights (or ages) and also increased with the increase of salinity concentrations. Heights of egg capsules, the number of egg capsules and fecundities (the number of eggs and embryos) were the maximum at S-1 (Gwangyang Bay (average 31.5 psu)) and the minimum at S-3 (the upper reaches of Seomjin River (average 15.5 psu)). Total numbers of fecundities of R. venosa individual -1 year -1 were about 1x10 6 at S-1 region, about 8x10 5 at S-2 region, and about 2x10 5 at S-3 region. Rates (50%) of individuals reaching first sexual maturities in three different salinity regions (S-1, S-2 and S-3) were over 50% in females measuring 7.1-8.0 cm in shell height (considered to be two years old), and 100% in those > 10.1 cm (considered to be five years old). Biological minimum sizes (RM50) in females in three different regions are 72.0 mm SH at S-1 region, 70.9 mm SH at S-2 region, and 74.6 mm SH at S-3 region, respectively. Exceptionally, smaller individuals (considered to be one year old) were participated in reproduction.