Gametogenesis, spawning behavior and larval abundance of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas in the Thau lagoon: Evidence of an environment-dependent strategy

Type Article
Date 2017-04
Language English
Author(s) Ubertini Martin1, Lagarde FranckORCID1, Mortreux Serge1, Le Gall PatrikORCID1, Chiantella Claude1, Fiandrino Annie1, Bernard Ismael2, Pouvreau StephaneORCID3, Roque D'Orbcastel EmmanuelleORCID1
Affiliation(s) 1 : IFREMER, UMR MARBEC, F-34200 Sete, France.
2 : Eureka Modalisat, F-22740 Lezardrieux, France.
3 : IFREMER, UMR LEMAR, F-29280 Plouzane, France.
Source Aquaculture (0044-8486) (Elsevier Science Bv), 2017-04 , Vol. 473 , P. 51-61
DOI 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2017.01.025
WOS© Times Cited 17
Keyword(s) Mollusc physiology, Spawning triggers, Oysters
Abstract The Thau lagoon, located at the South of France, provides 10% of the French pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas production. Despite this intensive shellfish production, the larval recruitment of this species within the Thau lagoon is still misunderstood and spat collection remains highly variable; as a consequence, shellfish farmers rely mostly on hatchery”s spat. The present study aimed to describe reproduction features of C. gigas within the Mediterranean, as well as to explore spawning triggers of this species. To achieve this goal, the reproduction cycle from gametogenesis to spawning was followed during two years in several locations within the Mediterranean Thau lagoon. The spawning behavior of C. gigas within the Thau lagoon appeared to be slightly different from the one of the Atlantic Coast, showing several spawning events from June to October. The minimal temperature for massive spawning was 23 °C, which is much higher than temperatures mentioned in the literature for this species. A strong relationship was found between phytoplankton communities and gametogenesis, the latter being improved by a higher diatom/dinoflagellate ratio. Temperature was insufficient alone to explain spawning, highlighting other potential triggers such as the moon or lightning strikes. We made the hypothesis of a hierarchy of events triggering spawning, encompassing locking, synchrony and intensifying triggers.
Statement of relevance

This paper is filling in a gap in the literature regarding to reproduction of C. gigas in the Thau lagoon, which is always associated to temperature. However, temperature may not be the only factor involved in oyster reproduction, that is what we tried to show in this paper.
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Ubertini Martin, Lagarde Franck, Mortreux Serge, Le Gall Patrik, Chiantella Claude, Fiandrino Annie, Bernard Ismael, Pouvreau Stephane, Roque D'Orbcastel Emmanuelle (2017). Gametogenesis, spawning behavior and larval abundance of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas in the Thau lagoon: Evidence of an environment-dependent strategy. Aquaculture, 473, 51-61. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2017.01.025 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00369/48032/