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Article: The effects of female size on fecundity in a large marine gastropod Rapana venosa (Muricidae).
- Article from:
- Journal of Shellfish Research
- Article date:
- April 1, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 National Shellfisheries Association, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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ABSTRACT The life history strategy of the veined rapa whelk Rapana venosa, a temperate marine gastropod, includes generation times of 1 y, individual longevity of >10 y, annual production of egg cases, and an adult size range of 40 to >160 mm shell length (SL). This life history combined with the animal's generalist ecological preferences and broad physiological tolerances makes rapa whelks well suited for ecological success along a gradient of habitat and community types. Ballast water transport of veliger larvae across traditional zoogeographic boundaries has resulted in the establishment of invasive rapa whelk populations in Chesapeake Bay, USA, as well as European ...
<28 g wet tissue weight) rapa whelks have relatively lower annual fecundities (1 x 105 embryos [female.sup.-1] [yr.sup.-1]) than large (>