Male reproductive physiology of Paracentrotus lividus: monthly and seasonal evaluations to study the effects of the environment on gonadal development and sperm cells kinetic

Abstract Paracentrotus lividus is a model species for research in different areas, it is also important for modern aquaculture interested in breeding innovative species for greater product diversifications and reduction of the wild stock fishing pressure. This Echinoid was considered a seasonal niche product in the past; nowadays it is highly required on the market for the nutritional characteristics (high protein and low fat) of gonads, the edible part. Our work aims at optimizing farm technics by the study of the habitat impact on P. lividus male reproductive physiology. We correlated environmental variables of the fishing area (temperature, humidity, photoperiod, water temperature, moon phases) to reproductive parameters (morphological gonadal development, sperm cells kinetic). We analyzed data to highlight the relevance, for reproduction, of the length (month or season) of the observations. The significance of this work to the field of aquatic sciences is to drive aquaculture facilities in choosing the desirable period to recover the best spermatozoa with highest total and progressive motility. Moreover setting useful parameters to mimic the best environmental conditions, the highest gonadal development could be reached. This could also promote gametes exchanges between aquaculture facilities in the world taking advantage of the environment dependent gametes maturity.