Abstract

The queen conch (Aliger gigas) is a culturally and economically important molluskan fishery resource in the Caribbean region showing increasing signs of over harvest. Shallow-water distribution and large size facilitate capture, and internal fertilization and density-dependent reproduction make managing for reproductive biology critical to stock rehabilitation. In fact, the natural lifetime fecundity of conch is very high but most fisheries in the region harvest conch before even a small fraction of that reproductive potential can be attained. The goal of this review is to provide an up-to-date synthesis of the vast research literature on queen conch biology (spanning >60 years) and to discuss how knowledge of reproduction in conch can help to guide field surveys, fishery management decisions, and stock recovery projects. The review covers the subjects of anatomy, maturation and fecundity as they relate to conch age and size, reproductive behavior including migrations, seasonality, mating, and egg-laying, and the influences of both environmental and demographic variables on reproductive potential. Successes and failures under different forms of management practice are discussed as they relate to reproductive biology and recommendations are made for future research and fishery management alternatives. Successful management will require multiple regulatory approaches.

摘要

皇后海螺 ( Aliger gigas) 是加勒比地区文化和经济上重要的软体动物渔业资源，显示出越来越多的过度捕捞迹象。浅水分布和大尺寸便于捕获，内部受精和依赖密度的繁殖使得生殖生物学管理对种群恢复至关重要。事实上，海螺的自然寿命繁殖力非常高，但该地区的大多数渔业在获得海螺繁殖潜力的一小部分之前就收获了海螺。这篇综述的目的是提供关于海螺生物学（超过 60 年）的大量研究文献的最新综合，并讨论海螺繁殖知识如何帮助指导实地调查、渔业管理决策、和库存回收项目。审查涵盖解剖学主题，成熟度和繁殖力与海螺的年龄和大小、繁殖行为（包括迁徙、季节性、交配和产卵）以及环境和人口变量对繁殖潜力的影响有关。讨论了不同管理实践形式下的成功和失败，因为它们与生殖生物学有关，并为未来的研究和渔业管理替代方案提出了建议。成功的管理需要多种监管方法。讨论了不同管理实践形式下的成功和失败，因为它们与生殖生物学有关，并为未来的研究和渔业管理替代方案提出了建议。成功的管理需要多种监管方法。讨论了不同管理实践形式下的成功和失败，因为它们与生殖生物学有关，并为未来的研究和渔业管理替代方案提出了建议。成功的管理需要多种监管方法。