Evidence of clandestine harvest and failure of conservation policies for Argopecten purpuratus in the Rinconada Marine Reserve (Chile)

1. The study of Argopecten purpuratus reproduction, post‐larval settlement, stock size, and population size structure and shell growth was undertaken in the 2000s in the Rinconada marine reserve (Chile) to evaluate the effectiveness of scallop recruitment and self‐sustainability.
2. The results highlight strong seasonal and inter‐annual variations of environmental conditions and scallop gonadosomatic index, spat collection, benthic distribution, total abundance and population size structure.
3. The Von Bertalanffy growth parameters were L_∞ = 120.12 mm and K = 0.9681; commercial size would be reached in about 17.2 months in the bay. Substrate availability, meteorological conditions, hydrodynamics and illegal harvesting explain spatial and temporal variations in scallop distribution and abundance.
4. Recruitment strength depends on one main cohort from year to year. While recruitment made up 81% and 94% of total abundances in May 2002 and May 2003, respectively, there were no overall density‐dependent relationships between stock size and recruitment. Spawning asynchrony in the bay supports the hypothesis that multiple gamete releases form part of a reproductive strategy in response to environmental variability.
5. The massive disappearance of large‐sized scallops during the study periods was direct evidence of overfishing owing to clandestine harvesting within the marine reserve. The failure of current legislation, strategies and policies for scallop conservation requires new regulations to restore scallop stock size, maintain its reproductive performance and limit illegal harvesting in the Rinconada.
6. A scenario allowing harvesting regulated by stock‐dependent fishing quotas would more efficiently ensure stock recovery and self‐sustainability. The modalities of this new policy are discussed.

     

Crosses between two subspecies of bay scallop Argopecten irradians and heterosis for yield traits at harvest

In order to improve the yield of bay scallop Argopecten irradians by exploiting geographic subspecies heterosis, crosses between and within two subspecies, the northern A. i. irradians (Lamarck) and the southern A. i. concentricus (Say), were created and the offspring were cultured under the same environmental conditions. The two parental populations were collected from Bohai Bay in northern China and Beibu Bay in southern China, which were distinct in particular shell colours. The results indicated that the shell colour of bay scallop was inheritable and could be used as a morphological mark to distinguish hybrid and purebred individuals. At harvest, hybrid offspring always produced a significantly higher yield than purebred offspring. Positive heterosis was achieved for shell length, shell height, shell width, total weight and adductor weight, which was 5.02, 5.22, 3.88, 7.53 and 9.47 respectively. Hybrid gain was 10.86% for shell length, 10.48% for shell height, 9.77% for shell width, 34.90% for total weight and 41.69% for adductor weight, respectively, and all were significantly >5%. The present study reveals that it is effective for improving yield by hybridization between different geographic subspecies in the bay scallop.     

混养海湾扇贝对刺参池塘养殖环境的影响

为建立参贝混养的生态养殖模式,研究了海湾扇贝在池塘中与刺参混养,对养殖环境的影响。通过参贝混养与海参单养池的比较研究表明:参贝混养池的水质指标:氨态氮、亚硝酸盐等明显低于海参单养池;扇贝的滤食作用改善了水的透明度,参贝混养池明显高于海参单养池。参贝混养池中浮游生物的种类和数量优于单养池,海参喜食的底栖硅藻的生物量较多;浮游动物的种类较少,规格也较小。为池塘参贝生态养殖提供了参考依据。     

Recruitment of catarina scallop (Argopecten ventricosus) larvae on artificial collectors off the NE coast of the Gulf of California

We evaluated recruitment of larvae of catarina scallop, Argopecten ventricosus, in the area of Puerto Peñasco, NE Gulf of California. We moored artificial collectors in six sites from June 2007 to August 2008 and replaced them every 2 months. We used monthly (July 2002–September 2011) sea surface temperature (SST, °C) and surface chlorophyll‐a concentration (SSChl, mg m^?3) Aqua/MODIS satellite data to describe seasonal environmental behaviour study area. Also, we recorded bottom temperature at each site every 4 h, and every 2 months measured sea surface salinity, temperature and dissolved oxygen. We used a repeated measures anova to evaluate differences in the number of recruited spat between main factors, and analysed the presence of multimodal spat shell size frequency distributions. Overall, spat recruitment was negatively correlated with seawater temperature and showed higher spat recruitment abundances throughout winter, which is the season with the highest surface chlorophyll a concentration. We estimated multimodal shell size frequency distributions characterized by more than one modal size. The natural collection of A. ventricosus spat on artificial collectors in the area can be successfully performed over a protracted period (November–December to May–June). Our results extend the area where collection of A. ventricosus spat can be successful.     

利用地下海水进行海湾扇贝越冬的效果研究

把5cm以上海湾扇贝亲贝按43-50个／m^3密度吊养于水泥沉淀池，利用附近井水调温：使池水温度达4℃以上。越冬两个半月，成活率84％以上，而自然海区越冬贝成活率仅70％．升温促熟后．亲贝产卵孵化率60％以上，而自然海区越冬贝仅为15．1％。地下海水越冬贝的单位水体出苗量为505万粒／m^3和544万粒／m^3，而自然海区越冬贝出苗量仅有209万粒／m^3．证明利用地下海水调温，在沉淀池进行海湾扇贝亲贝越冬，效果明显，完全可行．     

When aquaculture restores and replaces an overfished stock:Is the conservation of the Species assured? The case of the scallop Argopecten purpuratus in Northern Chile

The fishery for Argopecten purpuratus in northern Chile, whichcollapsed because of overfishing, has been replaced by aquaculture of thespecies. In 1998, cultures produced 16,474 t, while the highest landings recorded inthe entire history of the fishery was in 1984 (one year after the 1983 ElNiño) with 5275 t. The figures for stock size of the species in the pastand at present, show that the wild stock of scallops today represents notmore than 10–15% of the total stock of the species within Chile, with mostof the individuals being kept in sea farms. Thus it is concluded that thescallop already represents a domestic species and, considering theoccurrence and development of selection practices in sea farms,biodiversity within the species appears to be at risk. With the developmentof culture practices over its entire range, there is little use in trying torecover a wild fishery for this scallop. It is urgent, however, that selectednatural beds be protected in order to preserve genetic diversity.     

Effect of the density on the growth and survival of the Caribbean scallops Argopecten nucleus and Nodipecten nodosus in suspended culture

Juveniles of the Caribbean scallops Argopecten nucleus and Nodipecten nodosus were suspended in pearl nets at densities of 25%, 30% and 50% coverage of the bottom of the net (BC) during days. Additionally, adults of A. nucleus (>35 mm) were placed in lantern nets at densities of 40%, 50% and 65% BC during days. Stocking density affected the growth of animals, with higher growth rates obtained at the lower densities. Although the survival of the two scallops was not influenced at the densities studied, the 15-day net changes, and culture in water of <28 °C produced better survival of A. nucleus and N. nodosus respectively. Predators of the families Cymatiidae, Grapsidae, Portunidae, Majidae and Xanthidae were found in the culture nets of juvenile A. nucleus , but during the adult phase they were absent. Predators exhibited a dense-independent behaviour in relation to scallops. There was not any association between predator frequency and survival of A. nucleus .     

海湾扇贝自交与杂交子代的生长 比较和通径分析

以海湾扇贝US和ME为亲本,建立了海湾扇贝自交UU、MM和杂交UM 3个试验组合,在养殖112、164天时测定生长参数并分析各养殖时期影响体重的主要因素.结果表明:在各养殖时期,杂交子代的壳高、壳厚以及体重均表现出生长优势(P<0.05),因此认为通过不同地理群体US和ME杂交方式来改善海湾扇贝性状是可行的;通径分析的结果表明,对于自交群体,体长是影响体重的主要影响因素,但对于杂交群体来说,壳高(112天)以及壳厚(164天)对体重的决定作用较大,因此对于该杂交群体的选育,应按照各性状对体重的具体决定系数选择各时期的优势性状,以使子代的杂种优势充分表现.     

饲料中脂肪水平对海湾扇贝性腺发育、脂肪酸组成和组织结构的影响

为了探讨配合饲料及其脂肪含量对海湾扇贝性腺发育、脂肪酸组成和组织结构的影响,在基础饲料中通过梯度添加鱼油（质量分数为0%、3%、6%和9%）配置4种脂肪质量分数为7%、10%、14%和17%的等氮饲料（质量分数为47%粗蛋白）,分别记为F7、F10、F14和F17,并以小新月菱形藻（Nitzschia closterium f. minutissima）作为对照组,试验在室内1 000 L的水槽中进行,每种饲料随机投喂3组扇贝[初始体质量为（40.79±1.70） g],每个重复30只,试验周期30 d。结果显示：饲料中脂肪含量未显著影响扇贝死亡率（P>0.05）,对照组死亡率显著低于各个饲料处理组（P<0.05）。性腺指数（gonadosomatic index,GSI）随着饲料脂肪含量增加呈先上升后下降的趋势,在F14组GSI达到最高,与对照组差异不显著（P>0.05）,显著高于初始时期（P<0.05）。性腺中雌性部分含水量F10组最高,显著高于F17组（P<0.05）;雄性部分各处理组间差异不显著（P>0.05）。性腺中雌性部分粗脂肪含量显著高于雄性部分（P<0.05）。性腺中脂肪酸的含量PUFA>MUFA>SFA,饲料中脂肪含量显著影响性腺中SFA、MUFA、n-3PUFA、DHA和EPA的含量（P<0.05）,当饲料中脂肪含量为14%或17%时达到最高值。性腺组织切片可见,各个处理组卵母细胞和精原细胞充满整个滤泡腔,滤泡密集,滤泡之间无空隙。由此可得出,配合饲料替代部分单胞藻饲喂海湾扇贝,可使其性腺发育至育苗要求,饲料中脂肪质量分数为14%时可以代替部分单胞藻饲喂海湾扇贝促进性腺发育。     

扇贝种间杂交的可行性及幼体早期发育的初步研究

用栉孔扇贝Chlamys farreri、海湾扇贝Argopecten irradians、虾夷扇贝Patinopecten yessoensis和华贵栉孔扇贝Chlamys nobilis进行多种杂交组合及自交,试验分为8组,即海湾扇贝♀×虾夷扇贝♂、虾夷扇贝♀×海湾扇贝♂、虾夷扇贝♀×华贵栉孔扇贝♂、虾夷扇贝♀×栉孔扇贝♂、栉孔扇贝♀×虾夷扇贝♂5个杂交组和虾夷扇贝、海湾扇贝、栉孔扇贝3个自交组,在不同温度下比较了各杂交组配子的亲和力,同时对胚胎发育及早期幼虫的生长结果进行比较。结果发现,在适温范围内各杂交组正、反交均可受精,其中栉孔扇贝♀×虾夷扇贝♂、虾夷扇贝♀×栉孔扇贝♂杂交组受精率较高,可达80%以上;杂交子一代的D型幼虫大小性状与母本相似。另外还对杂交组合受精率、成活率较低的成因进行了探讨。