The reproductive biology of the baby clam, Marcia opima, from two geographically separated areas of India

Abstract

A study of the reproductive cycle of the baby clam, Marcia opima (Gmelin) was conducted at two sites along the southeast (Tuticorin Bay) and southwest (Ashtamudi estuary) coast of India from December 1998 to January 2000. Histological evidence showed that baby clam from both the sites showed two spawning seasons. First spawning season was recorded from May to July in the southeast coast. In the southwest coast, the first spawning season was observed through March to May. A second spawning season from September to December was recorded in both the coasts. In the southeast coast, minimum and maximum condition indices were obtained in January 2000 and April 1999 respectively and decreased from May to June and November to January, signifying the two spawning periods. Most of the animals were either in spent or indeterminate gonadal stage from May to August and November to January indicating the active spawning during that months in the southeast coast.