• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.253-260
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• 2008

Gonadal development, gametogenesis, reproductive cycle, spawning, relative weight of flesh, and onset of sexual maturity of the murex shell, Ceratostoma rorifluum, collected from the rocky intertidal zone of Daehang-ri, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, Korea were investigated monthly from January to December 2005 both cytologically and histologically. The gonads were widely placed on the digestive gland located in the posterior spiral fleshy part in the shell. C. rorifluum had separate sexes, and was an internal fertilizer. The sex ratio of females to males was approximately 1:1. The ovary and testis contained a great number of oogenic follicles and spermatogenic tubules, respectively. The oogonia and fully ripe oocytes were $15-19{\mu}m$ and $150-160{\mu}m$ in diameter, respectively, and the cytoplasm of the ripe oocytes contained a number of yolk granules. The relative weight of flesh reached a maximum in August($39.35{\pm}0.40%$), and then decreased rapidly in November($32.75{\pm}1.20%$). The percentages of female and male snails at first sexual maturity with shell heights ranging from 12.1-14.0 mm were 60.0% and 52.9%, respectively, while 100% of the snails of both sexes with shell heights over 18.1 mm were reproductively active. Based on the gonadal development and histological observations, the reproductive cycle of the snail could be categorized into five successive stages: early active(December to May), late active(March to July), ripe(June to September), spawning(July to October), and recovery(October to March). C. rorifluum spawned once a year between July and October, and the majority of spawning occurred in September when the seawater temperature exceeded $23.5^{\circ}C$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Fisheries Technology Conference
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• 2000.05a
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• pp.531-532
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• 2000

The morphology of molluscan egg capsule is generally regarded as being species specific (Turner, 1992), and form and structure of the egg capsule reflect the degree of anatomical complexity of the reproductive organs (Fretter ＆ Hian, 1984). Ceratostoma rorifluum and Ocinebrellus inornatum are common and widespread muricid species found throughout the Korean rocky and boulder shores, and Neptunnea constricta is found frequently from continental shelf of the eastern sea of Korea. In spite of their predominance along the Korean coasts, morphology of their eggs and egg capsules is unknown so far. The purpose of the present study, therefore, is to provide descriptions and illustrations for identifying egg capsules of the foregoing 3 stenoglossan gastropod species. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Fisheries Technology Conference
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• 2000.05a
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• pp.375-376
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• 2000

Sex ratio of a population is a key factor to determine reproductive rate of the population. If the population has skewed sex ratio to the male, the population size may decline gradually at an area which it inhabits, and, furthermore, if a species plays an ecologically important role in its community (e.g., a keystone species in Paine, 1966), its potential reproductive rate will be to form a characterized community because community structure is strongly influenced by the abundance of the ecologically important species (Hughes, 1986). A number of workers (e.g., Bryan et al., 1986 in Nucella lapillus; Spence et al., 1990 in Thais haemastoma) suggested that high frequency and/or late stage of imposex might affect the female mortality and normal reproduction adversely. Consequently, the imposex could affect sex ratio of natural population of some neogastropod including thaisid species. (omitted)