Summary
A survey of the available molluscan literature shows that reproductive effort is higher in semelparous species (29.90%) than in iteroparous species (18.21%), and that in iteroparous species reproductive effort increases with successive breeding seasons. Oviparous species were found to divert considerably more into reproduction than viviparous species, with 24.24% and 5.25% channeled respectively.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Aldridge, D.W., McMahon, R.F.: Growth, fecundity, and bioenergetics in a natural population of the Asiatic freshwater clam, Corbicula manilensis. Philippi from North Central Texas. J. Mulloscan Studies (in press, 1978)
Apley, M.L.: Field studies on life history, gonadal cycle and reproductive periodicity in Melampus bidentatus (Pulmonata: Ellobiidae). Malacologia 10, 381–397 (1970)
Ansell, A.D., Lander, K.F.: Studies on the hard-shell clam, Venus mercenaria, in British waters. III. Further observations on the seasonal biochemical cycle and on spawning. J. Appl. Ecol. 4, 425–435 (1967)
Avolizi, R.J.: Biomass turnover in populations of viviparous Sphaeriid clams: comparisons of growth, fecundity, mortality and biomass production. Hydrobiologia 51, 163–180 (1976)
Browne, R.A.: Comparisons of growth, mortality, fecundity, biomass and productivity rates in four lake populations of the prosobranch snail, Viviparus georgianus. Ecology (in press, 1978)
Burky, A.J.: Biomass turnover, respiration, and interpopulations variation in the stream limpet, Ferrissia rivularis (Say). Ecol. Monogr. 51, 235–251 (1971)
Cole, L.C.: The population consequences of life history phenomena. Q. Rev. Biol. 29, 103–137 (1954)
Dame, R.F.: Energy flow in an intertidal oyster population. Estuar. Coastal Mar. Sci. 4, 243–253 (1976)
Eversole, A.G.: Fecundity in the snail Helisoma trivolis: experimental, bioenergetic and field studies. Ph.D. Dissertation, Syracuse University. Diss. Abst., 35, 5716–5717-B; order no. 75-10, 538 (1974)
Fraser, T.H.: Contributions to the biology of Tagelus divisus in Biscayne Bay, Florida. Bull. Mar. Sci. 17, 111–132 (1967)
Fuji, A., Hashizume, M.: Energy budget for a Japanese common scallop, Patinopecten yessoensis (Jay) in Matsu Bay. Bull. of the Faculty of Fisheries, Hokkaido Univ. 25, 7–19 (1974)
Hughes, R.N.: Ecological energetics of the keyhole limpet, Fissurella barbadensis Gmelin. J. Exptl. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 6, 167–178 (1971a)
Hughes, R.N.: Ecological energetics of Nerita populations in Barbados, West Indies. Mar. Biol. 11, 12–22 (1971b)
Hunter, R.D.: Growth, fecundity, and bioenergetics in three populations of Lymnaea paulstris. Ecology 56, 50–63 (1975)
Kuenzler, E.J.: Structure and energy flow of a mussel population in a Georgia salt marsh. Limnol. Oceanogr. 6, 191–204 (1961)
Lack, D.: The significance of clutch size. Ibis 89, 302–352 (1947)
Mattice, J.S.: Production of a natural population of Bithynia tentaculata L. Ekol. Polska 20, 525–539 (1972)
McMahon, R.F.: Growth, reproduction, and bioenergetic variation in three natural populations of a freshwater limpet Laevapex fuscus. Proc. Malacol. Soc. Lond. 42, 331–351 (1975)
Russell-Hunter, W.D.: Ecology of freshwater pulmonates. In: Pulmonates, Vol. 2. Systematics, evolution and ecology (V. Fretter, J. Peak, eds.). New York: Academic Press 1978
Russell-Hunter, W.D., Meadows, R.T., Apley, M.L., Burky, A.J.: On the use of wet-oxidation method for estimates of total organic carbon in mollusc growth studies. Proc. Malacol. Soc. Lond. 38, 1–11 (1968)
Tinkle, D.W.: The concept of reproductive effort and its relation to the evolution of life histories of lizards. Am. Nat. 103, 501–516 (1969)
Tinkle, D.W., Hadley, N.F.: Lizard reproductive effort: Calorific estimates and comments on its evolution. Ecology 56, 427–434 (1975)
Williams, G.C.: Natural selection, the costs of reproduction, and a refinement of Lack's principle. Am. Nat. 100, 687–792 (1966a)
Williams, G.C.: Adaptation and natural selection, 307 pp. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton Univ. Press 1966b
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Browne, R.A., Russell-Hunter, W.D. Reproductive effort in molluscs. Oecologia 37, 23–27 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349988
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349988