Reproduction and lipids in the sub-Antarctic limpet Nacella (Patinigera) macquariensis Finlay, 1927

The reproductive cycle of the sub-Antarctic limpet, Nacella (Patinigera) macquariensis Finlay, 1927 is described from monthly gonad indices and slide smears of gonadal tissue. Two populations were sampled, from the eulittoral zone and at ≈4 m depth into the sublittoral zone. Gametogenesis started 2 months earlier in the eulittoral zone population; the breeding period, however, was sufficiently long to overlap in the two populations. This phase difference in reproductive cycles is discussed with respect to possible genetic divergence and correlation between timing within the reproductive cycle and environmental factors. Lipid was a prominent component of both the digestive gland and the gonad, but not of the foot. Changes in lipid levels during the reproductive cycle indicated that the digestive gland stored lipids which were transferred to the gonad during gametogenesis.