Reproduction of the invasive slipper limpet, Crepidula fornicata, in the Bay of Brest, France

Article Article scientifique Article Reproduction of the invasive slipper limpet, Crepidula fornicata, in the Bay of Brest, France eng 2006 author Richard Joëlle 688657 author Huet Martial author Thouzeau Gérard author Paulet Yves-Marie 789-801 10.1007/s00227-005-0157-4 0025-3162 The reproduction of Crepidula fornicata was studied in the Bay of Brest in order to characterise the first step of the reproductive cycle of this invasive species. The survey was carried out from 2000 to 2003 and different parameters were measured, namely, the percentage of the different sexual stages, the straight length of the shell and the percentage of brooding females using a survey of the embryonic development and the fecundity. The juvenile frequency increases generally from mid-June or mid-August, depending on the year. In 2001 and 2003, a first peak was observed as early as May, but it was followed by a rapid disappearance of the individuals. The sex-ratio female/male increased from 0.22 to 0.46 between 2001 and 2003. The sex change between intermediates and females took place mainly in summer and was well marked in 2001 and 2003. The survey of the embryonic development in the egg capsules brooded by the females provided an annual phenology of the laying and hatching processes. The laying period extends from February to September with three to four major periods of egg-laying per year and corresponding hatching periods about 1 month later. Each female lays two to four times per year on average. The first egg-laying concerned fewer females than subsequent ones, except in 2003, and exhibited a higher fecundity. The annual mean of the number of eggs for each stage was not significantly different, thus indicating no significant mortality rate during embryonic development. For the C. fornicata population in the Bay of Brest, several reproductive characteristics tend to highlight its invasive capacity: (1) a long reproductive period, (2) reproduction in a ‘multi-trials' process equivalent to a spreading out of the risks and (3) a relatively high fecundity. Dewey 590 Open Access - Licence nationale Springer 44 Département de génétique et évolution 162 false Marine Biology 149 4 90a77d94-5411-4239-b5fc-be4bede73a7c Article (Published version) Public Richard2006_Article_ReproductionOfTheInvasiveSlipp.pdf 574872 application/pdf openAccess Faculté des sciences / Section de biologie / Département de génétique et évolution

Title	Published in	Access level	OA Policy	Year	Views	Downloads

Reproduction of the invasive slipper limpet, Crepidula fornicata, in the Bay of Brest, France	Marine Biology			2006	376	810

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Richard, Joëlle