title: Reproductive strategy of the tiny abyssal scallop (Delectopecten vitreus macrocheiricolus) collected on the bottom of the Japan Sea, surmised from histological observations of the gonads.
abstract: Two hundred and fifteen individuals of the tiny abyssal scallop (Delectopecten vitreus macrocheiricolus) were collected at a depth of around 3,000 m on the bottom of the Japan Sea during a cruise of the Yokosuka/Shinkai 6500 YK 01-06. The scallop population included specimens of 4 sizes, i.e., very small, small, middle, and large, with mantle sizes of 1-2mm, 3-5mm, 6-9mm, and 10-12mm, respectively. Histological observations revealed that the large-size group was at the stage just after oviposition or spermiation, or in the regressed stage of gametogenesis. The small- and middle-size groups were in the growing stage of gametogenesis. These results suggest that only the large-size individuals were responsible for reproduction and that the small- and middle-size individuals would participate in subsequent reproductions. This paper will discuss the reproductive strategy of this scallop living at such great depth.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biodiversity, Noto Marine Laboratory, Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University Uchiura, Japan. sasayama@sweet.ocn.ne.jp
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sasayama
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001824:Body Constitution; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006066:Gonads / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D008974:Mollusca / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*