REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF RUDITAPES. DECUSSATUS(LINNAEUS,1758) IN ÇARDAK LAGOON, DARDANELLES STRAIT

Reproductive biology of Ruditapes decussatus (Linnaeus,1758) in Çardak Lagoon, Dardanelles Strait

Ahmet Mutlu Gözler, Ahmet Nuri Tarkan

Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Aquatic Products, Rize,TURKEY
University of Istanbul, Faculty of Aquatic Products,Department of Marine Biology, Ordu Caddesi, No. 200, Laleli 34470 Istanbul, TURKEY

Abstract

This study was carried out in order to determine the reproductive period of the carpet clam (Ruditapes decussatus L. 1758). 43.32 % of the examined clams were the females, and 34.38 % were the males and the sex ratio was 1:1,23. Microscopical investigations indicated that the early spawners appeared in March-April. The gonad development started in March and spawning took place between July and October. Histological examinations revealed that gonad development started in March and terminated in October. The period between November and March was the resting stage of clam. The number of ripened individuals made a pike in June. Condition Index results were almost parallel with those of histological examinations. Determinations of temperature, salinity and chlorophyll-a revealed that Ruditapes decussatus spawned at 24˚C temperature and a salinity value between 20-26 ‰.

KeywordsRuditapes decussatus, reproductive biology Çardak Lagoon, Dardanelles Strait

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