BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Ostrea edulis

Researched by

Angus Jackson

Data supplied by

MarLIN

Refereed by

This information is not refereed.

Reproduction/Life History

Reproductive type

Protandrous hermaphrodite

Developmental mechanism

Planktotrophic

Reproductive Season

June to September

Reproductive Location

As adult

Reproductive frequency

Annual protracted

Regeneration potential

Life span

6-10 years

Age at reproductive maturity

3-5 years

Generation time

Insufficient information

Fecundity

Up to 2,000,000 in large females

Egg/propagule size

ca 150 µm diameter

Fertilization type

Internal

Larvae/Juveniles
Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential	>10km	Larval settlement period	Insufficient information
Duration of larval stage	11-30 days

Reproduction Preferences Additional Information

A life span of 5-10 years is probably typical (majority of individuals in populations are 2-6 years old). However, they may reach in excess of 15 years old. Oysters are protandrous alternating hermaphrodites. This means that they start off as males producing sperm then switch to egg producing females, back to males and so on. Gamete maturation begins in March or April and is in part temperature dependent. Gametogenesis may be continuous in warmer conditions e.g. California. On the west coast of Ireland there is at least one spawning in each sexual phase during the summer. There may be some periodicity in spawning with peaks during full moon periods. Fecundity may be as high as 2,000,000 in large individuals. The eggs are around 150 microns in diameter. Eggs produced during the female stage are held in the gills and mantle cavity. The eggs are fertilized by sperm drawn in by the inhalant water flow used for feeding and respiration. The fertilized eggs are retained for 7-10 days for the early development until the veliger stage is reached. This is sometime called larviparous or incubatory development.

Reproduction References

Lilley, 2000, Dare, 1982, Orton, 1936, Wilson & Simons, 1985, Yonge, 1960, Korringa, 1952,