Scientists Use 'Love Potion' to Help Endangered White Abalone Snail Reproduce

White abalone is on the verge of extinction. However, scientists in California have devised a unique method of assisting the sea snail population in reproducing.

Kristin Aquilino of the University of California, Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory, is the lead scientist for the White Abalone Captive Breeding Program.

"White abalone cannot come back without our assistance," she says.

The animals, which were once abundant in Southern California and Mexico's coastal waters, have been on the US federal endangered species list since 2001. Overfishing, poor reproduction rates, and disease have both harmed the population.

Aquilino's team increased their numbers after about ten years, during which no white abalone was made, by creating a special mixture.

Love Potion

The scientists soak the snails in a "chemical love potion" for hours during the day-long procedure. A potion is a substance or substance with a unique or enigmatic influence on something.

Seawater and hydrogen peroxide is in the scientists' potion. It causes the creatures' sperm and eggs to be released.

Abalone Relationships

According to Aquilino, "Long-distance relationships are difficult for abalone... We're going to put them in a really romantic situation."

She went on to say that the project's aim was to build young "that would end up out in the wild."

Abalone Larvae

Larvae, or young abalone, crossed 25,000 in 2019 but fell to 25,000 in 2020 due to pandemic lockdowns, which reduced the lab to only one event for the season.

The larvae produced at the time, however, had one of the highest survival rates ever, according to Aquilino.

If the abalone fails to reproduce, another mating takes place some weeks later.

Goals

"We want to make sure we're not overstressing them," Aquilino said. "Hopefully, that little extra time will allow them to become even more effective."

The young abalone was packaged in bags and sent to California-based partner organizations. With more rooms, these young abalones have a better chance of surviving.

The job is personal for Aquilino. She met her husband while studying red abalone as a student on a dive.

An abalone pearl is also used in Aquilino's engagement ring. At home, her daughter plays with a toy abalone farm tank. "It's been an extremely important part of my personality and that of my family," Aquilino said.

White Abalone Life Expectancy and Reproduction Rate

White abalone has a life expectancy of 35 to 40 years. Adults in the wild reach sexual maturity between the ages of four and six.

Abalone reproduces by releasing their eggs and sperm into the water in a process known as broadcast spawning. This suggests that fertilization is more likely to occur as an adult male and female abalone spawn near one another. Fertilized eggs develop into larvae, which settle down and mature into juveniles and adults.