Growth and survival of the pearl oyster Pteria hirundo (L.,1758) in an intermediate stage of culture in Santa Catarina, Brazil

Abstract

There are no records in Brazil for the culture of Pteridae family oysters, genus Pteria and Pinctada. The intermediate culture can be considered one of the critical stages during the oyster farming. The changes in life conditions from a semi-closed environment provided by the collector to the structures utilized for the growth represents a considerable stress factor to which the animals are subjected. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the growth and survival of the pearl oyster Pteria hirundo (Linnaeus, 1758) kept in intermediate lanterns. Seeds of P. hirundo, obtained through larviculture carried out at the Marine Molluscs Laboratory (UFSC), southern Brazil were detached from the collectors, transferred and kept in an intermediate culture system (oyster lantern). During 6 months, growth (dorsoventral height -DVH in mm) and survival (%) were evaluated. Two size classes were tested: medium (M), between 3.4 and 4.4 mm, and large (L), bigger than 4.5 mm. The density of occupation in each floor of the lantern was 50%. At the end of the experiment, the survivals observed were 90 and 94% for the sizes M and L, respectively. Medium juveniles of Pteria hirundo had an average (Std) increase of 16.1 (±4.38) mm in the dorso-ventral height, and large juveniles an average increase of 11.4 (±3.77) mm after six months of experiment. The results observed during the intermediate stage of cultivation indicate that Pteria hirundo presents survival and growth similar to other species of pearl oysters traditionally used in the pearl industry in several countries. Palavras-chave: ostra perlífera, crescimento, sobrevivência, cultivo intermediário, Pteria hirundo. Keywords

Volumen 49, numero 1

“…Six months into the experimental period, individuals obtained a shell height increment of 58, 54 and 52 % at depths of 2, 6 and 10 m, respectively. These values are higher than the increment (41 %) observed over the same culture time in the winged oyster Pteria hirundo (initial size of 39.40 mm) cultured in Brazil at 1-2 m depth (Albuquerque et al, 2012).…”

“…Seis meses después del período experimental, los individuos obtuvieron un incremento de la altura de la concha de 58, 54 y 52 % a profundidades de 2, 6 y 10 m, respectivamente. Estos valores son más altos que el incremento (41 %) observado durante el mismo tiempo de cultivo en la ostra alada Pteria hirundo (tamaño inicial de 39,40 mm) cultivada en Brasil a 1-2 m de profundidad (Albuquerque et al, 2012).…”

Progress towards reestablishing Latin America as a major pearl producing region: A review

“…hirundo for mabé pearl production have been conducted at the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina ( UFSC ), Florianopolis, in Southern Brazil since 2006. Research has addressed the annual breeding cycle, methods for spawning induction and hatchery‐rearing of larvae and spat 79 and the survival and grow‐out of juveniles to commercial size 80,81 . Cultivation of Pt.…”

“…Many other scientific studies have identified breeding seasons that ensure, with some certainty, the supply of juvenile oysters for pearl culture operations 70,77,83 . The research effort to develop appropriate culture techniques and devices for the early nursery and grow‐out of pearl oysters to commercial size is also significant 42,43,68,72,81 . Finally, pearl oyster research carried out by the Latin American academia has generated advances in pearl production methods, such as dedicated, in‐house technology for production of bead‐nucleated cultured pearls using Pt.…”

Settlement of juveniles of pearl oyster (Pinctada imbricata) on artificial collectors in Caraguatatuba, Sao Paulo, Brazil

“…), Colombia (Urban ; Castellanos & Newmark ; Castellanos & Campos and Velasco & Barros ) and Australia (O'Connor & Lawler ). In Brazil, studies are limited to those by Salvador, Albuquerque and Ferreira () and Albuquerque, Alves, Zanandrea, Ferreira, Melo and Magalhães () with the genus Pteria and Polli () with the genus Pinctada . Up until now there have been no specific studies on seed uptake or reproductive season for P. imbricata .…”