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The recruitment of scallops (and beyond) by two different artificial collectors (Gulf of Taranto, Mediterranean Sea)
Author(s) -
Prato Ermelinda,
Biandolino Francesca,
Parlapiano Isabella,
Gianguzza Paola,
Fanelli Giovanni
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1111/are.12785
Subject(s) - scallop , biology , fishery , aquaculture , mediterranean climate , bivalvia , shellfish , mediterranean sea , ecology , mollusca , aquatic animal , fish <actinopterygii>
Abstract This study provides for the first time an evaluation of the natural availability of scallop seeds along the coastal area of Taranto (Mediterranean Sea, Southern Italy). To select the best artificial collectors to harvest scallop seeds in this area, cylindrical collectors (Cyl) were compared to traditional ‘Japanese‐style onion bags’ (Bag) across three sites. Scallops represented 26.6% of total bivalve recruitment among all collectors (782 ± 331 ind. m −2 ). The most recruited scallops were Flexopecten glaber and Mimachlamys varia . The white ( F. glaber ) and black scallops ( M. varia ) were abundant at all three sites, while the queen scallop, Aequipecten opercularis , was only found at one site. Beyond the recruitment of scallops, numerous other potential commercial bivalve species were collected, including Limaria tuberculata, which was the most abundant bivalve species (33.3% of total recruitment). At all sites, Bag collectors had higher recruitment than Cyl collectors. Scallops recruited in artificial collectors exhibited a multicohort size distribution at most sites, suggesting potentially continuous reproductive activity in the scallop populations. F. glaber, M. varia and L. tuberculata could be good candidates to diversify the aquaculture production because of the availability of seed and their growth rate. Moreover, the farming of these bivalves integrates well with other forms of aquaculture (e.g. mussels), thus potentially offering farmers an additional source of income.