Abstract
Body size at sexual maturity, egg-size distributions, and potential reproductive output have been estimated for female and male squid, Loligo forbesi Steenstrup, off the west coast of Scotland. Two size modes at maturity were found in both sexes, but separation into size cohorts was more pronounced in males (180 and 350 mm mantle length, ML). Preliminary ageing studies based on statolith ring-counts suggest that these size modes are not due to different age groups at breeding. Females have a single size mode of mature eggs in the proximal oviduct, but may have at least two size modes of eggs within the ovary. This finding is interpreted as evidence of batch-spawning in this squid. There was a weak relationship between total egg numbers (range 1000 to 16000) and body size (range 196 to 318 mm ML) and between mature egg size and body size. Males showed a strong positive relationship between spermatophore length and body length but a weak relationship between total number of spermatophores and body size. The results are discussed in the context of flexibility of breeding strategies in the loliginids and variety of life-cycle patterns.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Augustyn CJ (1990) Biological studies on the chokker squid Loligo vulgaris reynaudii (Cephalopoda: Myopsida) on spawning grounds off the south-east coast of South Africa. S Afr J mar Sci 9:11–26
Baddyr M (1989) The biology of the squid Loligo vulgaris in relation to the artisanal fishing site of Tifnit, Morocco. PhD thesis, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Boletzky S von (1987) Embryonic phase. In: Boyle PR (ed) Cephalopod life cycles. Vol 2. Academic Press, London, pp 5–31
Boyle PR (ed) (1983) Cephalopod life cycles. Vol 1. Species accounts, Academic Press, London
Boyle PR, Ngoile MAK (1993 a) Assessment of maturity state and seasonality of reproduction in Loligo forbesi (Cephalopoda: Loliginidae) from Scottish waters. In: Okutani T, O'Dor RK, Kubodera T (eds) Recent advances in cephalopod fisheries biology. Tokai University Press, Tokyo, pp 37–48
Boyle PR, Ngoile MAK (1993 b) Population variation and growth in Loligo forbesi (Cephalopoda: Loliginidae) from Scottish waters. In: Okutani T, O'Dor RK, Kubodera T (eds) Recent advances in cephalopod fisheries biology. Tokai University Press, Tokyo, pp 49–59
Coelho ML (1985) Review of the influence of oceanographic factors on cephalopod distribution and life cycles. NW Atlant Fish Orgn (NAFO) scient Coun Stud 9:47–57
Coelho ML, Quintela J, Bettencourt Mattos Silva J, Villa H (1994) Population structure, maturation patterns and fecundity of the squid Loligo vulgaris from southern Portugal. Fish Res (in press)
Fields WG (1965) The structure, development, food relations, reproduction and life history of the squid, Loligo opalescens Berry. Calif Dep Fish Game Fish Bull 131:1–108
Guerra A, Rocha F (1994) The life history of Loligo vulgaris and Loligo forbesi (Cephalopoda: Loliginidae) in Galician waters (NW Spain). Fish Res (in press)
Hanlon RT, Yang WT, Turk PG, Hixon RF (1989) Laboratory culture and estimated life span of the Eastern Atlantic squid, Loligo forbesi Steenstrup, 1856 (Mollusca: Cephalopoda). Aquacult Fish Mgmt 20:15–33
Harman RE, Young RE, Reid SB, Mangold KM, Suzuki T, Hixon RF (1989) Evidence for multiple spawning in the tropical oceanic squid Stenoteuthis oualaniensis (Teuthoidea: Ommastrephidae). Mar Biol 101:513–519
Hatanaka H, Kawahara S, Uozumi Y, Kasahara S (1985) Comparison of life cycles of five ommastrephid squid fished by Japan: Todarodes pacificus, Illex illecebrosus, Illex argentinus, Nototodarus sloani sloani and Nototodarus sloani gouldi. NW Atlant Fish Orgn (NAFO) scient Coun Stud 9:59–68
Hatfield EMC, Rodhouse PG (1991) Biology and fishery of the Patagonian squid Loligo gahi (d'Orbigny, 1835): a review of current knowledge. J Cephalopod Biol 2:41–49
Hatfield EMC, Rodhouse PG, Porebski J (1990) Demography and distribution of the Patagonian squid (Loligo gahi, d'Orbigny) during the austral winter. J Cons int Explor Mer 46:306–312
Holme NA (1974) The biology of Loligo forbesi Steenstrup (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) in the Plymouth area. J mar biol Ass UK 54:481–503
Lipinski M (1979) Universal maturity scale for the commercially important squids. The results of maturity classification of Illex illecebrosus (LeSueur, 1821) population for years 1973–1977. Res Docums int Commn NW Atlant Fish (Ser 5364) 79/II/38:1–40
Lum-Kong A, Pierce GJ, Yau C (1992) Timing of spawning and recruitment in Loligo forbesi (Cephalopoda: Loliginidae) in Scottish waters. J mar biol Ass UK 72:301–311
Macy WK III (1980) The ecology of the common squid, Loligo pealei LeSueur, 1821, in Rhode Island waters. PhD thesis. University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island
Mangold K (1987) Reproduction. In: Boyle PR (ed) Cephalopod life cycles. Vol 2. Academic Press, London, pp 157–200
Martins HR (1982) Biological studies of the exploited stock of Loligo forbesi (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) in the Azores. J mar biol Ass UK 62:799–808
McGowan JA (1954) Observations on the sexual behaviour and spawning of the squid Loligo opalescens, at La Jolla, California. Calif Fish Game 40:47–54
Mesnil B (1977) Growth and life cycle of squid, Loligo pealei and Illex illecebrosus, from the Northwest Atlantic. Sel Pap int Commn NW Atlant Fish 2:55–69
Ngoile MAK (1987) Fishery biology of the squid Loligo forbesi Steenstrup (Cephalopoda: Loliginidae) in Scottish waters. PhD thesis. University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen
Okutani T (1983) Todarodes pacificus. In: Boyle PR (ed) Cephalopod life cycles. Vol 1. Academic Press, London, pp 201–216
O'Dor RK (1983) Illex illecebrosus. In: Boyle PR (ed) Cephalopod life cycles. Vol 1. Academic Press, London, pp 175–200
Pierce GJ, Boyle PR, Hastie LC, Key L (1994a) The life history of Loligo forbesi (Cephalopoda: Loliginidae) in Scottish waters. Fish Res (in press)
Pierce GJ, Boyle PR, Hastie LC, Shanks A (1994b) Distribution and abundance of the fished population of Loligo forbesi in U.K. waters. Fish Res (in press)
Pierce GJ, Hastie LC, Boyle PR (1994c) Diets of squid Loligo forbesi and Loligo vulgaris in the Northeast Atlantic. Fish Res (in press)
Pierce GJ, Hastie LC, Guerra A, Howard FG, Boyle PR (1994d) Morphometric variation in Loligo forbesi: regional, seasonal, sex, maturity and worker differences. Fish Res (in press)
Pierce GJ, Thorpe RS, Hastie LC, Brierley AS, Guerra A, Boyle PR, Jamieson R, Avila P (1994e) Geographic variation in Loligo forbesi in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean: analysis of morphometric data and tests of causal hypotheses. Mar Biol 119:541–547
Recksiek CW, Frey HW (eds) (1978) The market squid, Loligo opalescens. Calif Dep Fish Game Fish Bull 169: 1–185
Roberts MJ, Sauer WHH (1994) Environment: the key to understanding the South African chokka squid (Loligo vulgaris reynaudii) life cycle and fishery. Antarctic Sci 6:249–258
Sauer WHH, Smale MJ (1993) Spawning behaviour of Loligo vulgaris reynaudii in shallow coastal waters off the south-eastern Cape, South Africa. In: Okutani T, O'Dor RK, Kubodera T (eds) Recent advances in cephalopod fisheries biology. Tokai University Press, Tokyo, pp 489–498
Summers WC (1971) Age and growth of Loligo pealei, a population study of the common Atlantic coast squid. Biol Bull mar biol Lab, Woods Hole 141:189–201
Summers WC (1983) Loligo pealei. In: Boyle PR (ed) Cephalopod life cycles. Vol 1. Academic Press, London, pp 115–142
Suzuki T (1990) Japanese common squid — Todarodes pacificus Steenstrup. Mar Behav Physiol 18:73–109
Worms J (1983) Loligo vulgaris. In: Boyle PR (ed) Cephalopod life cycles. Vol 1. Academic Press, London pp 143–158
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by J. Mauchline, Oban
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Boyle, P.R., Pierce, G.J. & Hastie, L.C. Flexible reproductive strategies in the squid Loligo forbesi . Marine Biology 121, 501–508 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349459
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349459