Reproductive cycles of four species of Patella (Mollusca: Gastropoda) on the northern and central Portuguese coast

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2009

Authors

ribeiro, pa (Author) Other; xavier, r (Author) Other; santos, am (Author) FCUP; hawkins, sj (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

Vol. 89

Pages: 1215-1221

ISSN: 0025-3154

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 30 Citations

Scopus - 32 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Earth and related Environmental sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-GA8

DOI: 10.1017/s0025315409000320

Abstract (EN): The reproductive cycles of four limpet species, Patella depressa, Patella ulyssiponensis, Patella vulgata and Patella rustica are described for several locations in northern and central Portugal. Patella depressa and P. ulyssiponensis displayed almost continual gonad activity, with two main spawning periods, September-January and March-June, and minor spawning events dispersed throughout the year. Patella vulgata and P. rustica exhibited highly synchronized reproductive cycles, with well-defined breeding and resting periods. Gonad development in P. vulgata started in September and spawning took place from November-December to March. In P. rustica development started in June and spawning occurred from September-October to December-January. Compared to the 1980s these results suggest that breeding periods are becoming longer in southern species and shorter in northern species.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7