Fertilization success in the commercial gastropod Haliotis tuberculata

Citation
Mc. Baker et Pa. Tyler, Fertilization success in the commercial gastropod Haliotis tuberculata, MAR ECOL-PR, 211, 2001, pp. 205-213
Citations number
42
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Aquatic Sciences
Journal title
MARINE ECOLOGY-PROGRESS SERIES
ISSN journal
0171-8630 → ACNP
Volume
211
Year of publication
2001
Pages
205 - 213
Database
ISI
SICI code
0171-8630(2001)211:<205:FSITCG>2.0.ZU;2-L
Abstract
A series of laboratory experiments was conducted to determine fertilization success in the commercial abalone Haliotis tuberculata I,. Fertilization s uccess is a function of sperm dilution, sperm-egg ratio, gamete age and the amount of time sperm and eggs are in contact. Sperm density required for o ptimum fertilization success in vivo, using 10 mi culture volume, was in th e range 5 x 10(4) to 5 x 10(5) sperm ml(-1). When these experiments were re peated using 500 ml culture volume, results showed high levels of fertiliza tion success across a far larger range of sperm dilutions with success >80 % at 10(3) sperm ml(-1). Sperm-egg ratios of >100:1 have little effect on f ertilization success, but below these levels this factor becomes significan t. Viability of both sperm and eggs decreased with age so that no fertiliza tion occurred after 2.5 h. Maximum fertilization success occurred after 30 min sperm-egg contact time. These data suggest that sperm limitation may se verely compromise reproductive success in exploited populations of H. tuber culata.