Gonad behavior during peak reproduction period of Strombus gigas from Banco Chinchorro

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A histological study of the gonad development of Strombus gigas was undertaken from May to September 1995 to understand the gonadal behavior during peak reproduction period for this species at Chinchorro Bank. This work focused on the description of the gonadal histology to recognize the different stages and describe the gonadic cycle during the spawning season. Twenty organisms were sampled monthly and processed for histological section. Male and female gonad structure is similar; differentiation starts with the development of germinal cells to form oocytes or spermatocyts. Males present three types of sperms: normal (or eupyrene spermatozoids) and two types of abnormal sperms (oligopyrenre and apyrene), which might have a function related to nutrition and movement of the spermatophore. Oocyte formation is assisted by accessory cells, formed by non-developing oocytes. No evidence of incorporation of the whole accessory cells into the oocyts was found; therefore, only the incorporation of vitellum is assumed. During the five sampling months, gametogenesis and mature organisms were present. Spawn was detected from June to August with a peak in July. The presence of a high percentage of mature organisms during September suggests that there might be a spawn later in the year, or the accumulation of mature gametes for an early spawn during spring eng

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