Alternative reproductive strategies ofOstrea puelchana

✍ Scribed by Elba R. Morriconi; Jorge Calvo

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1989
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 634 KB
• Volume: 185
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1573-5141
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00036607

✦ Synopsis

Three reproductive strategies of Ostrea puelchana from the San Matias Gulf (Rio Negro, Argentina) are described and discussed . These relate to the degree of grouping shown by the oysters ; i.e ., (a) Carriage (this strategie is unique to the Ostreidae) ; (b) clusters and (c) isolation . Incidence of these strategies differed among three study sites (Banco Reparo, Las Grutas and Bajo Oliveira) . Carriage incidence was maximal at Bajo Oliveira (69 .4 % of the individuals), intermediate at Banco Reparo (49 .7 %), and minimal at Las Grutas (19 .7%), where clusters and isolated individuals predominate . Clusters constituted only a small fraction at Bajo Oliveira (1 .1 %) and Banco Reparo (3 .5%). The percentage of males larger than 50 mm was notedly lower at Banco Reparo (8 .0 °°) than at Las Grutas (39 .3 %) . The Las Grutas oysters associated in clusters have a higher percentage of males (57 .9%) than at other locations and in any other type of association .

Sex ratio and the particular dominant reproductive strategy are characteristic of each area, indicating a balance between the different strategies to improve fertilization efficiency .