Reproduction of paua, Haliotis iris Gmelin 1791 (Mollusca:Gastropoda), in north-eastern New Zealand

Abstract

An examination of the reproductive condition of a population of paua, H. iris, at Leigh in north-eastern New Zealand during 1986-87 revealed a long breeding season extending from late summer through autumn and winter and into early spring. Within this period, a sharp decrease of over 60% in the gonad index for both males and females indicated major spawning events in July and October. A smaller decrease in the gonad index in March suggested a third, minor spawning. These spawning events were confirmed by regular examination of histological sections of gonadal material. This breeding pattern is different from that previously described for southern localities in New Zealand, where spawning activity is limited to a four-month period from late summer into autumn. Paua in this northern population had a sex ratio slightly biased towards males (1 female to every 1.3 males) and achieved reproductive maturity between the sizes of 48 and 60 mm shell length. These features are also different from those described for southern populations of H. iris. These findings highlight the need to take regional differences in reproductive pattern into account when describing the population dynamics of marine gastropods.