Estimating clam yield potential in the Sacca di Goro lagoon (Italy) by using a two-part conditional model

The assessment of clam yield potential and the identification of suitable sites for clam rearing are a necessary step to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of the exploitation activities in a regulated fishery. We discuss the development, validation and application of a method for estimating the clam yield potential of a northern Adriatic lagoon (Sacca di Goro, Italy) by combining logistic and ordinary regression. Clam yield potential was derived on the basis of six environmental parameters, namely sediment type, dissolved oxygen, salinity, hydrodynamism, water depth and chlorophyll “a”. Density data were positively skewed and contained a substantial proportion of zero values due to the patchy-distribution of Tapes philippinarum. The original data set was divided in two parts: one indicating if T. philippinarum was present or not and the other indicating the abundance of the species when it was present. The presence data was modelled by using logistic regression and the abundance data was separately modelled by using ordinary regression. The two models were then combined to identify suitable sites, to compute the expected clam yield potential in the Goro lagoon and to define the role of each environmental parameter in determining clam presence and abundance. The two-part model was then validated on a further data set (R² = 0.87). Data on environmental parameters gathered in 15 sampling sites were interpolated via a nearest neighbour algorithm so as to derive maps of each environmental parameter for the whole lagoon. Finally, the two-part model was applied to derive the thematic maps of suitable sites for clam rearing and the corresponding yield potential.We claim that this reasonably rapid and cost-effective approach provides a rigorous framework for a fair partition of harvesting concessions among competitive users and for a substantial improvement of transparency in the decision-making process.     

Impact of shellfish farming eutrophication on benthic macrophyte communities in the Thau lagoon, France

In a large marine lagoon (Thau lagoon, southern France) with a shellfish farming dominant eutrophication, the macrophyte communities were sampled by six transects of three depths (1.5, 2.5 and 5 m) and their characteristics (species composition, diversity and biomass) were described in relation to environmental and sediment parameters. With increasing eutrophication (total inorganic nitrogen, 0.140-0.295 mg l-1; dissolved reactive phosphorus, 0.045-0.110 mg l-1; and N/P atomic ratio, 3-22), silt fraction and shell fragments in sediments increased (12-93 and 0-65% dry wt respectively). Different types of macrophytic communities could be defined in the shallow zone (1.5-2.5 m) corresponding to four main and successive stages of degradation. A pure eelgrass stand (Zostera marina and Z. noltii) and an eelgrass community colonized by macroalgae were observed in SW sites and could be distinguished by their sedimentary features. In sites (NE) more affected by eutrophication (fine-textured sediment), available incident light determined two main seaweed communities: an Ulva rigida community, outside the shellfish tables, and a Gracilaria bursa-pastoris community in the shellfish tables (lower incident light).     

Seasonality of QPX disease in the Raritan Bay (NY) wild hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) population

Quahog Parasite Unknown (QPX) is a potentially lethal pathogen of the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria along the northeastern coast of the United States. In the Raritan Bay wild clam population, QPX prevalence and infection intensity at three sites were examined by both histology and quantitative PCR in 2006. At two of three sites, QPX infection showed a seasonal pattern, with prevalence and weighted prevalence increasing through the spring, peaking in the summer and declining in the fall, while at the other site, the highest QPX prevalence and infection intensity were observed in the spring although overall prevalence at this site was generally low. Our data suggested that temperature may be an important environmental factor regulating the seasonal pattern of QPX disease in wild clams but also demonstrated that seasonal patterns vary from site to site, possibly linked to the clam density or other environmental factors. Over‐winter sampling and further investigations focusing on environmental factors, clam density and clam mortality as related to QPX infection are needed to better characterize and understand the seasonality of QPX disease.     

Factors Affecting Sediment Oxygen Demand in Commercial Channel Catfish Ponds

Sediment oxygen demand (SOD) measured in 45 commercial channel catfish ponds in northwest Mississippi using in situ respirometry ( N = 167) ranged from 63 to 1,038 mg/m² per h. Mean SOD in this study (359 mg/m² per h) was greater than that reported previously for catfish ponds but was similar to SOD in semi-intensive marine shrimp ponds. Nine variables were selected and measured to assess their relative importance in accounting for variation in SOD. Six variables were included in multiple regression models that explained slightly more than half of the variation in SOD. These variables were: dissolved oxygen concentration at the beginning of respirometry incubation:, particulate organic matter concentration in water above the sediment surface: organic carbon concentration at the immediate sediment-water interface (flocculent or F-layer) combined with the upper 2 cm of sediment (S-layer); organic carbon concentration in the mature (M) underlying sediment layer: water temperature: and total depth of accumulated sediment. Sediment oxygen demand was most sensitive to changes in dissolved oxygen concentration in the overlying water, particulate organic matter concentration in the water, and the concentration of organic carbon in the combined flocculent and upper sediment (F+S) layer. Models for SOD in this research predict that the mass of sediment below the upper 2-cm surface layer on average contributes only ∼20% of total SOD. Stratification and normal daily fluctuation of dissolved oxygen concentration in eutrophic culture ponds likely limit expression of sediment oxygen demand. Maintaining aerobic conditions at the sediment-water interface will minimize accumulation of organic matter in pond sediment.     

Drivers of density for the exploited giant clam Tridacna maxima: a meta‐analysis

Giant clam populations have been over‐exploited throughout their range over the past decades for their meat and shells. Tridacna maxima, commonly known as the ‘small giant clam’, has remained relatively untargeted by fishers in areas where larger species occur (e.g. Tridacna squamosa), and high densities of the species are still observed on some isolated and enclosed reefs of the Central Pacific. However, it is unclear whether reported discrepancies in densities worldwide reflect differences in fishing pressure only or a combination of differences in exploitation levels and environmental forcing. We reviewed T. maxima surveys throughout its range to (i) identify patterns of density at global scale, site scale (e.g. island) and intrasite scale; (ii) discuss the influence of sampling method on density estimates; and (iii) identify the primary drivers of giant clam density along gradients of human pressure and natural forcing. We found 59 studies that reported density estimates for 172 sites across 26 countries in the Indo‐Pacific and Red Sea. At intrasite scale, densities were strongly dependent on sampling protocols and surveyed habitats. At site scale, we found close links between T. maxima density and human population per reef area, suggesting that isolated reefs where exploitation only recently started may be more vulnerable to stock collapse in the future. Density patterns were also found to vary significantly depending on reef type (e.g. atoll, island, continental coastline). We discuss how natural processes and fishing pressure may control population dynamics and densities among sites, and make recommendations for future research.     

The Spawning of Perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) in Loch Leven, Kinross, Scotland

Investigations were carried out in 1979 and 1980 into the location of spawning grounds of perch in Loch Leven, the comparative intensity of their use and the duration of the spawning period. Spawning was found to take place in depths of 1–5 m and there was an indication that depths around 3 m are preferred. Silt and mud apparently inhibit spawning on exposed shores down to 2.5 m although natural shelter probably ameliorates this. Macrophytic vegetation is rarely present at the preferred depths, therefore, artefacts and artificial substrates must be most frequently used. Spawning started about 25 April in a ‘mild’ spring and about 9 May in a ‘cold’ spring. The duration of the spawning period was 4–5 weeks. A double peak in spawning intensity was found in 1979 and, if valid, could indicate a division of spawning fish into two groups, possibly by age as the peaks were not associated with the location of spawning sites. Although spawning tended to be more intense on the southern shore and around one of the islands almost any part of the loch down to 5 m may be used.     

Invasive Asian clam distribution pattern reveals minimal constraints to downstream dispersal and imperceptible ecological impacts

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Environmental impact of razor clam harvesting using salt in Ria Formosa lagoon (Southern Portugal) and subsequent recovery of associated benthic communities

• 1. Razor clams are found in different habitats ranging from sheltered systems (e.g. lagoons and estuaries) to open coasts. They are distributed worldwide and comprise a small number of species of high economic value. Depending on the specific habitat and species exploited, different mechanical and hand‐harvesting techniques are employed. While the environmental effects resulting from mechanized methods have been described by several authors, the impacts caused by traditional hand‐harvesting methods remain unknown. Therefore, a study was undertaken in Ria Formosa lagoon (South of Portugal) addressing the environmental effects resulting from harvesting Solen marginatus with salt.
• 2. No significant impact on the sediment was found; the main effect was an increase in salinity after covering the area with salt, which decreased rapidly with the flood tide and after a few hours had returned to pre‐harvesting levels.
• 3. No effects on benthic communities were observed, with similar fluctuation patterns recorded in control and experimental areas, the observed differences being attributed to the natural variability of benthic populations.
• 4. Based on the results obtained in the present study, a razor clam fishery using salt in intertidal areas can be considered environmentally ‘friendly’.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

广西沿海文蛤及其生境中细菌菌群的初步调查

对广西沿海文蛤及其养殖场的细菌菌群用ＶＩＴＥＫ微生物自动分析仪进行了初步检测，发现文蛤体内有腐败假单胞菌（Ａｌｔｅｒｏｍｏｎａｓｐｕｔｒｅｆａｃｉｅｎｓ）、河弧菌（Ｖｉｂｒｉｏｆｌｕｖｉａｌｉｓ）、副溶血弧菌（Ｖ．ｐａｒａｈａｅｍｏｌｙｔｉｃｕｓ）、溶藻弧菌（Ｖ．ａｌｇｉｎｏｌｙｔｉｃｕｓ）、非发酵性革兰氏阴性芽胞菌（ＮｏｎｆｅｒｍｅｎｔｉｎｇＧｒａｍ－ｎｅｇａｔｉｖｅＢａｃｉｌｌｕｓ）、假单胞菌属（Ｐｓｅｕｄｏｍｏｎａｓｓｐｐ．）以及一些未知菌。从海水中亦经常检测到腐败假单胞菌、溶藻弧菌、河弧菌、温和气单胞菌（Ａｅｒｏｍｏｎａｓｓｏｂｒｉａ）等细菌。分析表明，副溶血弧菌可能为文蛤的一种病原菌。药敏试验显示．上述所有细菌几乎都对环丙沙星、庆大霉素和氯霉素敏感。     

青蛤生产性育苗及中间培育技术研究

为解决青蛤养殖生产所需苗种,在借鉴泥蚶生产性育苗技术基础上,重点突破了青蛤亲贝强化培育与人工催产技术,幼虫饵料单胞藻培育技术,青蛤苗种中间培育与清涂除害技术,系统掌握生产性育苗及中间培育技术,实现了青蛤苗种的规模化生产。2003～2005年累计培育平均壳高2mm的稚贝74．574亿粒,经中间培育后出池商品仔贝49．842亿粒,中间培育成活率达到66．84%。生产性育苗净利润163．82万元,中间培育总利润776万元,平均每平方千米获利15 089元。     

Growth,mortality and reproduction of the transplanted Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum Adams & Reeve 1850) in Jiaozhou Bay

Samples of Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum Adams & Reeve 1850) were collected from May 2004 to April 2005 monthly, and plankton net trawling of planktonic larvae and bottom sediment sampling surveys were further conducted from May to October 2006 in Jiaozhou Bay. Based on the data collected, growth, mortality and reproduction of the transplanted Manila clam and the environmental effects were examined. The results showed that the enhanced clams grew well and showed a growth trend similar to the local wild ones. The main growth periods lasted from April to September, with the water temperature being the main factor affecting the growth, which was the same as that of the wild clams. There were also two reproduction cycles for the farmed Manila clams each year in Jiaozhou Bay and the main breeding period was from May to June. The phenomenon of delayed metamorphosis was quite common through larval development. The farmed clams could spawn when they reached sexual maturity, but they could not perform effective recruitment as many planktonic larvae died during metamorphosis and settlement. A preliminary study indicated that sediment perturbation and marine environment pollution were the main factors causing the death of larvae in the development process.     

Characterization of depth-related changes and site-specific differences of microbial communities in marine sediments using quinone profiles

ABSTRACT:   Respiratory quinone compositions were analyzed by a high-performance liquid chromatography to characterize the depth-related changes and site-specific differences of microbial communities in marine sediments. Two deep-sea sediment samples and one coastal sediment sample were investigated from three sites on the coast of Japan, Sagami Bay, Suruga Bay and Tokyo Bay. Although depth-related changes in microbial community structures were observed, site-specific differences appeared to have greater influence on overall community structures. A variety of quinone homologs was commonly identified at all sampling sites and depths examined, but a few minor quinone fractions, mainly derived from Actinobacteria , were detected only at specific sampling sites. Methylmenaquinone-7 (MMK-7) was the major component throughout the examined depths in Sagami Bay and Tokyo Bay. Most abundant quinone homologs changed with each depth in Suruga Bay. Menaquinone-6 (MK-6) predominated in the 0 to 2-cm layer (19%). Below 0–2 cm, the most abundant homolog in each sampling depth was phylloquinone (K₁; 13%, 4–6 cm), MK-8 (19%, 8–10 cm) and MK-7 (13%, 16–18 cm). The microbial respiratory quinone profiling method shown here, successfully demonstrates the usefulness of this approach to characterize microbial communities in marine sediments.     

Floc and sediment properties and their environmental distribution from a marine fish farm

Open ocean pen aquacultural operations are leaky systems with potential environmental impacts of metabolic excretions products, feed additives, and anti‐fouling agents. This study analysed the water–sediment interface along a horizontal transect away from a fish farm, noting variations between water, floc, and sediment properties. The properties examined included nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), carbon (C), sulphur (S), and trace element content, as well as heterotrophic bacteria populations. C, N, labile P, NH₄, Ca, and Zn were elevated in surface sediments at the farm in comparison with sites 100 and 300 m away. The flocs had higher levels of Mg, K, and heterotrophic bacteria than adjacent sediments, indicating the importance of the microbial communities in flocs. The flocs were important in their role as a retention and potential transport mechanism for metals, increasing in concentration of Al, Fe, and Mn with distance from the farm.     

Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Bottom Soil Profiles in Ponds at Auburn, Alabama, USA and a Proposed System for Describing Pond Soil Horizons

Soil cores were taken from each of three, 2-, 23-, and 52-yr-old research ponds (650–1,010 m² area) at Auburn, Alabama. Many physical and chemical variables changed in intensity with increasing depth in cores. Compared to original compacted pond soil, sediment contained more moisture; had lower bulk density (<1.4 g/cm³); possessed higher percentages of silt and clay; had greater porosity, specific surface area, and cation exchange capacity; and contained greater concentrations of organic matter and nutrients. Sediment organic matter was highly decomposed as evidenced by low proportions (5–15%) of carbon and nitrogen associated with the light fraction (soil retained on a 53-μm sieve). Sediment depth at 100-cm water depth increased with pond age (11.7 cm, 28.3 cm, and 48.3 cm in 2-, 23-, and 52-yr-old ponds, respectively), but sediment composition did not change greatly over time. Successive layers in cores were as follows: 1) water near the soil-water interface with a high concentration of solids; 2) high moisture content sediment with dry bulk density <0.3 g/cm³; 3) lower moisture content sediment with bulk density between 0.3 and 0.5–0.7 g/cm³; 4) rapid transition of bulk density from 0.5–0.7 g/cm³ to 1.4 g/cm³; 5) original compacted soil with bulk density of 1.4–1.7 g/cm³. We propose that these five layers be referred to as F (flocculent layer), S (stirred or mixed sediment), M (mature, bulk, un-mixed sediment), T (transitional layer), and P (original, undisturbed pond bottom) horizons, respectively. Superficial, oxidized sediment is termed an S_o horizon, and the reduced part of the S horizon is termed an S_r horizon. The upper part of the T horizon is an MT horizon when it is similar to the M horizon, or a FT horizon when it resembles the P horizon. A system for delineating horizons in pond soil profiles will be valuable in future attempts to classify pond soils.     

Growth of the hard clam Meretrix lusoria in Taiwan

The growth of hard clam Meretrix lusoria in Taiwan was observed as it was grown at six different stocking rates (55, 109, 172, 244, 344 and 455 clams/m²), from November 1979 to September 1980. It was found that the stocking rate had more effect on the increase of the total weight of the clam than on the shell length. Under the environmental condition of the study site, the optimum stocking rate was 244 clams/m². When the net production of the clam was lower than 1103 g/m², the growth of the individual clam was not affected by the stocking rate. But when the net production was higher than 1589 g/m², the growth of the individual clam seemed to be retarded. The average pH of the sea water in the clam culture area was between 7.9 and 8.4. The average dissolved oxygen content was between 4.2 and 11.2 mg/l. And the average water salinity was between 30‰ and 35‰. All these three factors did not seem to have direct relationship with the growth of the clams. Sea water temperature, however, showed great effects on the growth of the clams. It is shown that the growth of the hard clam was slow at a water temperature of 15–18°C, increased at 20–22°C, and accelerated at 25–32°C.     

Seasonal changes in otolith increment width trajectories and the effect of temperature on the daily growth rate of young sardines

We studied the otolith microstructure and growth of sardine, Sardina pilchardus, in the North Aegean Sea (eastern Mediterranean Sea), using samples of larvae and juveniles that had hatched in winter (November–January) and winter–spring (February–May), respectively. The juveniles had developed during an extended period coinciding with marked pelagic ecosystem changes (from winter, mixed conditions to summer, stratified waters). To examine the relationship between environmental changes and the observed variability in their otolith increment–width trajectories (width‐at‐age), we summarized the shape of trajectories with a four‐parameter set estimated from a growth model fit to each width trajectory. The individual parameter sets were then related to the potential oceanographic conditions that fish experienced during their development, derived from a hydrodynamic–biogeochemical model (POM‐ERSEM), implemented in the sampling area. Substantial seasonal effects were demonstrated on the otolith microstructure (platykurtic versus leptokurtic trajectories in winter‐mixed versus summer‐stratified conditions), which were related to the progressive sea surface warming. In a subsequent step, in order to study the effect of oceanographic conditions on larval and juvenile daily growth rates, a GAM (Generalized Additive Model) analysis of otolith increment widths was carried out, using model‐derived oceanographic parameters and taking into account the ‘inherent otolith growth’, expressed by the explanatory variables ‘previous increment width’ and ‘Age’. Results showed a strong and positive, linear effect of temperature on the growth rate of winter‐caught larvae, whereas in juveniles, which had developed within a wide range of temperatures, an optimum temperature for growth was observed at around 24°C.     

桑沟湾养殖海域柱状沉积物中磷的赋存形态和生物有效性

以桑沟湾扇贝和海带两个养殖海区的柱状沉积物为研究对象,采用连续提取法将沉积物中磷的赋存形态分为交换态磷（Ex-P）、铁结合态磷（Fe-P）、自生磷（Au-P）、碎屑磷（De-P）和有机磷（Or-P）,并分析了各形态磷的垂直分布特征;利用沉积物年代序列测定的结果,结合桑沟湾水产养殖历史,探讨了近200年来桑沟湾养殖海域沉积物中磷形态的含量变化情况,并进一步分析了该区域的生物有效磷。结果表明,柱状沉积物中上层各形态磷的含量高于底层,表明养殖活动使桑沟湾表层沉积物中的磷含量增大。各形态磷的含量在贝壳沉积区内变化幅度均较大,Or-P是沉积物中磷的主要形态;扇贝养殖区沉积物中的总磷（TP）、Or-P和海带养殖区沉积物中的TP、Or-P在沉积时间序列上分布基本一致,其含量变化与各时期工业生产和海水养殖活动密切相关;两个区域柱状沉积物中潜在生物有效性磷占总磷的百分比为61.2%和71.0%。沉积物中Ex-P的含量对该海域的初级生产力的影响较大。     

Changes in soil and water quality at sediment–water interface of Penaeus vannamei culture pond at varying salinities

The health of the pond environment in shrimp farming is important for sustainable and profitable aquaculture, in which sediment–water interface is the most important influencing area. With this objective, the key parameters of water and sediment at the interface was studied in shrimp ponds with varying salinities and compared with the surface water and soil to understand the variations and the underlying causes. Total ammonia nitrogen and total alkalinity were higher in water at the interface as compared to surface water, whereas pH, nitrite, oxide forms of nitrogen (NO₃), phosphorus (PO₄) and oxidizing bacteria were observed to be lower. There was no significant difference with respect to macrominerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium between water at the interface and surface. These changes are profoundly influenced by the uppermost 1.0‐cm thick sediment layer, where the maximum transition of nutrients takes place with the water column. The outcome of the study highlights the effectiveness of water sampling for metabolites at the interface, which reflects at an early stage any potential deterioration of pond environment, which will help the farmer to initiate timely mitigation measures.     

Selection of spawning habitat by several gobiid fishes in the subtidal zone of a small temperate estuary

We examined the spawning sites of several gobiid fishes in the subtidal zone of a small temperate estuary and determined the relationship of the nest abundance of each species with several environmental conditions, including water temperature, salinity, median particle size, proportion of silt and clay, current width, maximum water depth, distance from each site to the river mouth, and density of objects (boulders, cobbles, empty oyster shells, and empty clam shells) in the water. During this study, we found 115 nests belonging to the following six species: Favonigobius gymnauchen, Tridentiger obscurus, Leucopsarion petersii, Acanthogobius lactipes, Rhinogobius giurinus, and Tridentiger trigonocephalus. Stepwise multiple regression analysis, which was used to determine the best model for the nest abundance of all species, revealed that the nest abundance of each species clearly increased with an increase in the density of spawning substrates, such as cobbles and bivalve shells. These results show that the density of spawning substrates is a crucial factor affecting the selection of spawning habitats by each species.     

Effect of different growing techniques and substrate types on the growth and survival of the clams Tapes dorsatus (Lamarck) and Katelysia rhytiphora (Lamy)

Potential clam farming areas containing clean sandy sediment accessible at low tide are limited in New South Wales, Australia. The availability of farming infrastructure such as oyster racks and floating devices along with the prevalence of sediment other than clean sand prompted the assessment of farming methods for Tapes dorsatus (Lamarck) and Katelysia rhytiphora (Lamy) and sediment preferences for T. dorsatus. This study indicates that both clam species, when contained in baskets, grow (whole weight and shell length increase) significantly faster (P < 0.05) in the sediment followed by in floating baskets, on racks or on the sediment in that order. However, the survival of K. rhytiphora was significantly higher (P < 0.05) on the rack (99%) than in the other situations (72–85%). A similar trend was observed for T. dorsatus but it was not significant (P > 0.05). Tapes dorsatus held in a sandy-shell substrate grew faster than those cultured in substrates of only shell, sand or mud at the same intertidal site, Survival rates over 6 months were high in all these translocated sediments and ranged from 95 to 100%. Tapes dorsatus grown in the same sediments in a nearby tidally-exchanged subtidal pond reached market size (～ 38 mm) after 6 months of grow-out and were over twice as heavy (whole weight 10.0–11.9 g) as those grown inter-tidally (whole weight 3.7–5.7 g).