Growth of Nodipecten subnodosus (Bivalvia: Pectinidae) in La Paz Bay, Mexico

Abstract

Nodipecten (Lyropecten) subnodosus (Sowerby 1835), the largest pectinid in tropical waters, has been continuously exploited. In support of sustainable development for this species, we started basic growth studies to establish aquacultural practices. N. subnodosus was cultured using triangular plastic cages in La Paz Bay (1995–1996) to describe growth and survival; we determined relationships between quantity of available food and growth and behaviour of body component indices. This culture system allows an isometric shell growth of scallops over 13 months; 56.8±2.1 mm height, 54.5±2.1 mm length and 23.0±1.1 mm width. Allometric growth was found between weight and height, length and width (survival was 44.3%). Body component indices and growth increased progressively until the summer of 1996 when all indices decreased negatively, influenced by high water temperatures. Gonad tissue developed during the first year. Gametogenic activity was evident, presenting the first spawn in summer. Particulate organic and inorganic matter and chlorophyll concentrations were relatively constant during the study, and there was no evidence relating these values to growth and body component indices. Culture of N. subnodosus is feasible in La Paz Bay. However, high water temperatures in summer reduced growth and survival rates.

Growth and reproduction of the lion's paw scallop Nodipecten subnodosus in a suspended culture system at Guerrero Negro lagoon, Baja California Sur, Mexico

“…Scallops displayed a high survival rate at the end of the experiment (63.6%), similar to previous reports for N. subnodosus in the Mexican Pacific coast (Koch et al 2005; Osuna‐García et al 2008), indicating that the culture conditions are favourable for this species. However, during the first month of culture, high mortality was observed, which has also been reported for this species (Barrios‐Ruiz et al 2003) and for others such as Mizuhopecten yessoensis (Silina 1994) in similar experiments. This may be due to the stress caused by spat handling during transportation and seeding, together with the fact that the environmental changes from laboratory to field culture negatively affect scallop spat, lowering survival (Barrios‐Ruiz et al 2003).…”

“…For these reasons, various studies have been undertaken on the biology of this species, including reproductive aspects in both wild specimens (Reinecke‐Reyes 1996; Racotta, Ramírez, Ibarra, Rodríguez‐Jaramillo, Carreño & Palacios 2003; Arellano‐Martínez, Racotta, Ceballos‐Vázquez & Elorduy‐Garay 2004; Arellano‐Martínez, Ceballos‐Vázquez, Villalejo‐Fuerte, García‐Domínguez, Elorduy‐Garay, Esliman‐Salgado & Racotta 2004) and under culture conditions (Gutiérrez‐Villaseñor & Chi‐Barragan 1997; Maldonado‐Amparo, Ramírez, Avila & Ibarra 2004; Palacios, Racotta, Kraffe, Marty, Moal & Samain 2005; Palacios, Racotta, Arjona, Marty, Le Coz, Moal & Samain 2007). These include experiments to assess the growth of this scallop species under culture conditions in different sites across the northern Mexican Pacific, including the Gulf of California (Barrios‐Ruiz, Chávez‐Villalba & Cáceres‐Martínez 2003; Racotta et al 2003; Villalejo‐Fuerte et al 2004; Koch, Mazón‐Suastegui, Sinsel, Robles‐Mungaray & Dunn 2005; Taylor, Koch, Wolff & Sínsel 2006; Osuna‐García, Hernandez‐Llamas & Mazón‐Suastegui 2008; Ramírez‐Arce 2009), with encouraging results. The reported growth rates, however, have been highly variable, presumably as a result of micro environmental differences in temperature and food availability in each experimentation site, both of which are known to affect growth and reproduction in pectinids (Bayne & Newell 1983; Lodeiros & Himmelman 1994; Lodeiros, Rengel, Freites, Morales & Himmelman 1998; Lodeiros & Himmelman 2000; Barrios‐Ruiz et al 2003; Koch et al 2005).…”

“…These include experiments to assess the growth of this scallop species under culture conditions in different sites across the northern Mexican Pacific, including the Gulf of California (Barrios‐Ruiz, Chávez‐Villalba & Cáceres‐Martínez 2003; Racotta et al 2003; Villalejo‐Fuerte et al 2004; Koch, Mazón‐Suastegui, Sinsel, Robles‐Mungaray & Dunn 2005; Taylor, Koch, Wolff & Sínsel 2006; Osuna‐García, Hernandez‐Llamas & Mazón‐Suastegui 2008; Ramírez‐Arce 2009), with encouraging results. The reported growth rates, however, have been highly variable, presumably as a result of micro environmental differences in temperature and food availability in each experimentation site, both of which are known to affect growth and reproduction in pectinids (Bayne & Newell 1983; Lodeiros & Himmelman 1994; Lodeiros, Rengel, Freites, Morales & Himmelman 1998; Lodeiros & Himmelman 2000; Barrios‐Ruiz et al 2003; Koch et al 2005).…”

Effect of emerged shipment on the physiological condition of the adductor muscle in adult giant lion's paw scallop Nodipecten subnodosus (Sowerby 1835)

“…The initial value of MYI was 32.2 ± 5.7%. It was higher than that reported by Barrios‐Ruiz et al . (2003) for the same species.…”

“…Such disturbances are unavoidable and cause stress, which has been defined by Dhert, Lavens and Sorgoloos (1992) as the reaction of an organism with a disturbed physico‐biological balance due to a stressful environment. Many of the methods and practices commonly used in the transportation of live organisms could be the reason for stress, which may collectively impair the physiological compensatory responses of the animal (Gómez‐Jiménez, Uglow, Pacheco‐Aguilar & Noriega‐Orozco 2001), and may result in death (Barrios‐Ruiz, Chávez‐Villalba & Cáceres‐Martínez 2003) and may also affect the intrinsic quality of the scallops. In the literature, the quality of the muscle has been related to antemortem stress, which affects the postmortem biochemical changes in the muscle (Pickering 1992; Thomas, Pankhurst & Bremner 1999).…”