Seasonal dynamics of the reproductive effort and first maturity of Chinese hat snails Trochita trochiformis (Born, 1778) in Guerrero, Mexico: Towards a sustainable fishery management
Juan Carlos Cerros-Cornelio , Rafael Flores-Garza , Alma Rubí Castrejón-Ríos , Jesús Guadalupe Padilla-Serrato , Pedro Flores-Rodríguez , Carmina Torreblanca-Ramírez , Carmen Rodríguez-Jaramillo , José Luis García-Corona
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
The Chinese hat snail Trochita trochiformis is a valuable gastropod for artisanal fisheries on the southeast coast of Guerrero, in the Mexican Pacific. The knowledge of the reproductive biology of this species is of the utmost importance to assess the renewal capacity of natural stocks, thus ensuring sustainable management strategies, particularly in the case of this heavily exploited resource. Here, we investigated gametogenesis, reproductive effort and the size at first maturity of T. trochiformis over a 2-year cycle using qualitative and quantitative histological techniques. Gonad development was classified into 6 different stages for both males and females, ranging from immature to spent sexual structures. Moreover, the first records of protandric sex reversal were reported for this species. Snails were able to reproduce throughout the year, with maximum peaks of gonad development occurring during winter at minimal sea surface temperatures of around 27 °C; whereas spawning and short periods of gametogenic inactivity were observed with rising temperatures (27 °C to ∼31 °C) through spring and summer. The results suggest that female gonads have superior breeding capacity than males, yielding the highest oocyte quality during winter. Shell diameter at first maturity (SD50) was estimated for the first time for this species at 44.8 mm for females, and 45.4 mm for males. Therefore, females are prone to overfishing since nearly 12 % of males changed to females after adult size in this study. Based on these results, two management measures could be applied: 1) a banning period from December to February during the season of greatest reproductive effort, and 2) an initial minimal capture size of ∼45 mm, thus allowing the snails to spawn at least once during the reproductive cycle.
期刊介绍:
This journal provides an international forum for the publication of papers in the areas of fisheries science, fishing technology, fisheries management and relevant socio-economics. The scope covers fisheries in salt, brackish and freshwater systems, and all aspects of associated ecology, environmental aspects of fisheries, and economics. Both theoretical and practical papers are acceptable, including laboratory and field experimental studies relevant to fisheries. Papers on the conservation of exploitable living resources are welcome. Review and Viewpoint articles are also published. As the specified areas inevitably impinge on and interrelate with each other, the approach of the journal is multidisciplinary, and authors are encouraged to emphasise the relevance of their own work to that of other disciplines. The journal is intended for fisheries scientists, biological oceanographers, gear technologists, economists, managers, administrators, policy makers and legislators.