Abstract
The spawning periodicity of Nodilittorina trochoides, N. radiata and N. vidua from two rocky shores of different wave exposure, Big Wave Bay (more exposed site) and Cape d'Aguilar, in Hong Kong was monitored for one year (November 1994–November 1995). The breeding season was similar for the three species, mainly during the summer (June–September). The spawning duration was 9 months for N. vidua and 7 months for the other two littorinids. Spawning was initiated at different times for the two sites. At Big Wave Bay, spawning occurred between May–November for N. trochoides; March–September for N. radiata and March–November for N. vidua. At Cape d'Aguilar, the spawning period of N. trochoides and N. radiata was similar (April–October), whilst for N. vidua, spawning extended up to December. A decrease in monthly fecundity was recorded during July and August at Big Wave Bay and Cape d'Aguilar respectively. A weak relationship was found between the size of reproductive females and egg production. The seasonal fecundity of N. trochoides and N. vidua was similar at both sites and estimated as 10 000 and 7500 eggs per female respectively. Fecundity of N. radiata varied between sites, with 15 000 eggs and 9000 eggs per female being recorded from Cape d'Aguilar and Big Wave Bay respectively.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ballantine, W. J., 1961. A biologically-defined exposure scale for the comparative description of rocky shores. Field Stud. 1: 1–19.
Berry, A. J., 1961. Some factors affecting the distribution of Littorina saxatilis (Olivi). J. anim. Ecol. 30: 27–45.
Berry, A. J., 1986. Semi-lunar and lunar spawning periodicity in some tropical littorinid gastropods. J. moll. Stud. 52: 144–149.
Berry, A. J. & E. Chew, 1973. Reproductive systems and cyclic release of eggs in Littorina melanostoma from Malayan mangrove swamps (Mollusca: Gastropoda). J. Zool., Lond. 171: 333–344.
Borkowski, T. V., 1971. Reproduction and reproductive periodicities of South Floridian Littorinidae (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia). Bull. mar. Sci. 21: 826–840.
Chan, L. C., 1995. The ecology of marine plankton in Tai Tam Bay, Hong Kong, with special reference to barnacle (Crustacea: Cirripedia) larvae. Ph.D. Thesis, Hong Kong, University of Hong Kong.
Chase, M. E. & M. L. H. Thomas, 1995. The effect of the rate and onset of temperature increase on spawning of the periwinkle, Littorina littorea (L.). J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 186: 277–287.
Fish, D. J., 1972. The breeding cycle and growth of open coast and estuarine populations of Littorina littorea. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 52: 1011–1019.
Fretter, V. & A. Graham, 1962. British Prosobranch Molluscs. Ray Society, London, 755 pp.
Gibson, D. G., 1964. Mating behavior in Littorina planaxis. Veliger 7: 134–139.
Goodwin, B. J., 1978. The growth and breeding cycle of Littorina obtusata (Gastropoda: Prosobranchiata) from Cardigan Bay. J. moll. Stud. 44: 231–242.
Grahame, J., 1973. Breeding energetics of Littorina littorea (L.) (Gastropoda: Prosobranchiata). J. anim. Ecol. 42: 391–404.
Grahame, J., 1975. Spawning in Littorina littorea (L.) (Gastropoda: Prosobranchiata). J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 18: 185–196.
Hannaford Ellis, C. J., 1983. Patterns of reproduction in four Littorina species. J. moll. Stud. 49: 98–106.
Hughes, R. N. 1980. Population dynamics, growth and reproductive rates of Littorina nigrolineata Gray from a moderately sheltered locality in North Wales. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 44: 211–228.
Hughes, R. N. & P. Answer, 1982. Growth, spawning and trematode infection of Littorina littorea (L.) from an exposed shore in North Wales. J. moll. Stud. 48: 321–330.
Hughes, R. N. & D. J. Roberts, 1980. Growth and reproductive rates of Littorina neritoides (L.) in North Wales. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 60: 591–599.
Kojima, Y., 1960. On the reproduction of periwinkles, Littorinidae, Gastropoda. Bull. mar. biol. station Asamushi 10: 117–120.
Langan-Cranford, K.M. & J. S. Pearse, 1995. Breeding experiments confirm species status of two morphologically similar gastropods (Lacuna spp.) in central California. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 186: 17–31.
Lasiak, T., 1987. Reproductive cycle of the supralittoral gastropod Littorina kraussi (Rosewater, 1970). S. Afr. J. Zool. 22: 170–172.
Mak, Y. M., 1995. Egg capsule morphology of five Hong Kong rocky shore littorinids. Hydrobiologia 309: 53–59.
Mak, Y. M., 1996. The ecology of the high-zoned littorinids, Nodilittorina trochoides, N. radiata and N. vidua on rocky shores in Hong Kong. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
McQuaid, C. D., 1981. Population dynamics of Littorina africana knysnaensis (Philippi) on an exposed rocky shore. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 54: 65–76.
Mileikovsky, S. A., 1971. Types of larval development in marine bottom invertebrates, their distribution and ecological significance: a re-evaluation. Mar. Biol. 10: 193–213.
Murray, T., 1979. Evidence for an additional Littorina species and a summary of the reproductive biology of Littorina from California. Veliger 21: 469–474.
Ohgaki, S., 1981. Spawning activity in Nodilittorina exigua and Peasiella roepstorffiana (Littorinidae, Gastropoda). Publ. Seto Mar. Biol. Lab. 26: 437–446.
Palant, B. & L. Fishelson, 1968. Littorina punctata (Gmelin) and Littorina neritoides (L.) (Mollusca, Gastropoda) from Israel: ecology and annual cycle of genital system. Israel J. Zool. 17: 145–160.
Pilkington, M. C., 1971. Eggs, larvae, and spawning in Melarapha cincta (Quoy & Gaimard) and M. oliveri Finlay (Littorinidae, Gastropoda). Aust. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 22: 79–90.
Reid, D. G., 1992. The gastropod family Littorinidae in Hong Kong. In B. Morton (ed), The Marine Flora and Fauna of Hong Kong and Southern China III. Proceedings of the Fourth International Marine Biological Workshop: The Marine Flora and Fauna of Hong Kong and Southern China, Hong Kong. Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong: 187–210.
Ross, B. & A. J. Berry, 1991. Annual and lunar reproductive cycles in Littorina saxatilis (Olivi) and differences between breeding in the marine Firth of Forth and the Forth estuary. J. moll. Stud. 57: 347–358.
Schmitt, R. J., 1979. Mechanics and timing of egg capsule release by the littoral fringe periwinkle Littorina planaxis (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia). Mar. Biol. 50: 359–366.
Spight, T. M. & J. Emlen, 1979. Clutch sizes of two marine snails with changing food supply. Ecology 57: 1162–1178.
Stearns, S. C., 1976. Life history tactics: a review of the ideas. Q. Rev. Biol. 57: 3–47.
Struhsaker, J. W., 1966. Breeding, spawning, spawning periodicity and early development in the Hawaiian Littorina: L. pintado (Wood), L. picta Philippi and L. scabra (Linne). Proc. malac. Soc. Lond. 37: 137–166.
Tang, C. T., 1995. Spatial variation in larval trematode infections of populations of Nodilittorina trochoides and Nodilittorina radiata (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) from Hong Kong. Asian mar. Biol. 12: 19–26.
Underwood, A. J., 1974. The reproductive cycles and geographical distribution of some common Eastern Australian prosobranchs (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Aust. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 25: 63–88.
Underwood, A. J., 1979. The ecology of intertidal gastropods. Adv. Mar. Biol. 16: 111–210.
Underwood, A. J. & K. E. McFadyen, 1983. Ecology of the intertidal snail Littorina acutispira Smith. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 66: 169–197.
Zar, J. H., 1996. Biostatistical Analysis. 3rd edition, Prentice Hall, New Jersey, 662 pp.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mak, Y.M. Spawning periodicity of three species of Nodilittorina in Hong Kong. Hydrobiologia 378, 149–160 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003206109124
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003206109124