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Growth and survival of the winged pearl oyster Pteria sterna (Gould, 1851) in suspended culture in the tropical Eastern Pacific: Influence of environmental factors
Author(s) -
Lodeiros César,
RodríguezPesantes Daniel,
Márquez Adrian,
Revilla Jormil,
Freites Luis,
LodeirosChacón Carla,
Sonnenholzner Stanislaus
Publication year - 2018
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.13514
Subject(s) - biology , bay , stocking , fishery , seston , aquaculture , biomass (ecology) , pearl , tropical marine climate , ecology , oceanography , phytoplankton , nutrient , fish <actinopterygii> , geology , philosophy , theology
The growth, survival and influence of environmental factors were analysed in two cohorts of cultured Pteria sterna in Ayangue Bay, Province of Santa Elena, Ecuador (tropical Eastern Pacific). Juveniles representing cohorts I and II (8.4 ± 0.54 and 5.0 ± 0.17 mm in dorso‐ventral axis) were deployed in November 2015 and February 2016, and grown in pearl nets suspended in a long line for 12 and 10 months respectively. The stocking density was monthly and bi‐monthly reduced during sampling of individuals to determine growth in dorso‐ventral shell axis, dry mass of shell, soft tissues and dry mass of fouling on shell. Water temperature, salinity, total seston and phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a ) were determined at the culture site. Results showed that P. sterna reached ~100 mm in length during the first year of culture. Although little negative influence of environmental factors was detected, high temperatures during the reproduction period can be the most negative influential trait. The highest tissue mass (6 g), which occurred at the 10th month of cultivation, as well as a high availability of spat by artificial collectors in the coastal waters, showed that the species can be considered a good candidate for aquaculture in the tropical eastern Pacific.