Effects of photoperiod and temperature on ovarian development and spawning of the Japanese spiny lobster Panulirus japonicus

H. Matsuda, T. Takenouchi, T. Yamakawa-2002

Aquaculture, 205(3-4): 385-398
Abstract:

In order to examine the effects of photoperiod and temperature on ovarian development and spawning in the Japanese spiny lobster Panulirus japonicus, spent female lobsters were cultured with male lobsters under six conditions of short (10 L) or long (14 L) photoperiod at 13, 19 or 25 °C during the months December-March. Under the long photoperiod, ovarian development progressed at all temperatures and at higher temperatures, development was accelerated. Spawning occurred in all the females kept at 25 °C and the ovaries in females at 19 °C also developed up to the point of approaching spawning at the end of the experiment. Ovarian development under the short photoperiod depended on temperature. It progressed slowly at 13 °C, whereas it was prevented or considerably delayed at 19 and 25 °C. These results suggest that both photoperiod and temperature are important factors controlling ovarian development and spawning for P. japonicus. When spent females were cultured under conditions of 10, 11.25, 12.5 and 14 L at 25 °C during the months December-March, ovarian development was suppressed at photoperiods, shorter than 14 L, whereas it progressed smoothly at 14 L and most females spawned. Hence, the critical photoperiod for ovarian development and spawning at 25 °C appears to be between 12.5 and 14 L.

(Fisheries Research Institute of Mie, 3564-3 Hamajima, Shima, Mie 517-0404, Japan, Tel.: +81-599-53-0130; fax: +81-599-53-2225, e-mail: fishmie@lilac.ocn.ne.jp)

home