Abstract

Reproductive cycle with the ovarian developmental phases, first sexual maturity of the female venus clam, Cyclina sinensis, was investigated by a histological study, and the number of spawned eggs and spawning frequency by artificial spawning induction of the clams were estimated. Samples were collected from the intertidal zone of Simpo, Gimje city, Korea between January and December, 2001. The reproductive cycle of this species can be classified into five successive stages; early active (February to April), late active (March to June), ripe (May to August), spent (July to September), and spent and inactive (September to February). The spawning period was once a year between July and August, a spawning peak was seen in July and August. Percentages of first sexual maturity of female clams of 25.1-30.0 mm in shell length were 64.3%, and 100% for the clams > 40.1 mm. The number of the eggs released from each clam by spawning induction increased as the size of clam in terms of shell length increased. The mean number of the eggs released from the second induction of spawning was 76.87% of the number of the eggs released in the first spawning. Our data indicated that the interval of each spawning was estimated to be approximately 15-17 (average 16.5) days.