Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2011, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (3): 88-93.doi: 10.11978/j.issn.1009-5470.2011.03.088cstr: 32234.14.j.issn.1009-5470.2011.03.088

• Marine biology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Seasonal variation in reproductive cycle and biochemical composition in relation to
environmental factors in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas

LIU Wen-guang1, LI Qi2, GAO Feng-xiang3, YU Rui-hai2, KONG Ling-feng2
    

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, CAS, Guangzhou
    510301, China; 2. Fisheries College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao  266003, China; 3. Mariculture Institute of Shandong
    Province, Qingdao 266003, China
  • Received:2010-04-06 Revised:2010-05-20 Online:2011-07-18 Published:2011-07-20

Abstract:

he authors studies the reproductive cycle and biochemical composition of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas in
relation to environmental factors (water temperature, salinity, chlorophyll a concentration) in  the culture areas of the Rushan
Bay from March 2004 to February 2005 in order to investigate its reproductive strategy. The results show that the water tem-
perature exhibited a profound seasonal change with the highest value in summer (August, 29.5℃) and the lowest value in
winter (January, 1.8℃), and the salinity had a small drop during rainfall periods in summer. The concentration of chlorophyll a
exhibited a clear seasonal pattern characterized by two unequally sized peaks: a small one in April 2004 (17.7μg·L−1
), and a
large one in September 2004 (25.8μg·L−1
). During winter, chlorophyll a concentration was low. Gonadal development of C.
gigas began in March and spawning took place during July to September. In winter, the gonad of C. gigas entered the undif-
ferentiated phase. The condition index decreased gradually during spawning, showing that C. gigas grew up slowly during
gametogenesis. The protein and lipid content increased gradually while the glycogen content decreased sharply during game-
togenesis, suggesting that glycogen played an important role in the reproductive cycle of  C. gigas. An increase in the
RNA/DNA ratio was found during gametogenesis, illustrating that RNA/DNA ratio was a valid indicator of sexual maturation in C. gigas. Significant decrease in ash content was observed during  spawning, indicating that substrates stored in various
tissues were catabolized to supply energy during gametogenesis. The results demonstrate that C. gigas may be considered as a
conservative species in gametogenic pattern.

Key words:  Crassostrea gigas, reproductive cycle, biochemical composition, environmental factor