The Reproductive Cycle of the Bay Scallop, Argopecten irradians irradians (Lamarck), in a Small Coastal Embayment on Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Taylor, R.E. and J.M. Capuzzo
Estuaries, Vol. 6, No. 4, pp. 431-435, 1983 WHOI-R-83-020
The spawning activity of the bay scallop Argopecten irradians irradians was monitored during the summer (May through September), 1979, in Waquoit Bay, a small embayment on the south shore of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The investigators were interested in learning more about the reproductive cycle and early growth and development of bay scallop populations. This paper reports the gonadal development and spawning activity of adult bay scallop populations within this small embayment. Results indicated that spawning activity of the bay scallop populations occurred predominantly before the summer maximum temperature was recorded. After the summer maximum was reached, most of the gonads appeared spent, thus emphasizing the importance of temperature in stimulating spawning as reported in the literature.