The Economic Impact of the Florida Cultured Hard Clam Industry

Abstract

The objective of this study was to estimate the economic impact on the Florida economy generated by the cultured hard clam industry. Florida certified shellfish wholesalers that handle Florida cultured hard clams were interviewed by telephone survey to determine the number and value of clams that they process, the sources of their clams, prices received, and the marketing channels (wholesale, retail, restaurant, and consumer) where they sell their clams. Of the three regions in the state, northwest Florida handled two-thirds of clams cultured in Florida. Firms obtained their clams from within their own region as well as from the other two regions in Florida. The Florida cultured hard clam wholesale and processing industry had $21.8 million in sales in 1999. Around 43 percent of these sales were within the state and 57 percent of them were to out-of-state locations, including international destinations. Regardless of the geographic destination of the cultured clams sold by clam firms, the majority was sold to other wholesalers. The total economic impact of the clam industry on Florida, after accounting for direct, indirect, and induced impacts, was $33.9 million in output, $9.0 million in labor income, and $12.1 million in value added.     

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.     

Influence of Congeneric Aquaculture on Hard Clam (Mercenaria spp.) Population Genetic Structure

Throughout their range, hard clams of the genus Mercenaria support important commercial fisheries, and hard clam aquaculture is rapidly developing in several regions, including Florida, USA. Commercial hard clam aquaculture in Florida waters originated in the Indian River Lagoon during the late 1970s, but by the early 1990s the focus of the industry had shifted to Cedar Key on the west coast of the state. There, the species Mercenaria campechiensis predominates the natural hard clam population, whereas Mercenaria mercenaria is predominant in the local aquaculture industry. The two species hybridize extensively. The present study was conducted to estimate the genetic implications of M. mercenaria aquaculture on the natural population of M. campechiensis that occupies Cedar Key waters. We sampled a variety of marine and estuarine habitats surrounding Cedar Key and collected 257 hard clams for analysis of species-specific diagnostic allozyme loci, age, and the presence and stage of gonadal neoplasia. Results indicate that the composition of the hard clam population has changed since the advent of aquaculture (i.e., post-aquaculture). Members of the species M. mercenaria were practically nonexistent prior to the 1993 initiation of aquaculture in the area but increased significantly in abundance post-aquaculture, as did hybrid hard clams. There was no significant difference in the abundance of M. campechiensis pre- versus post-aquaculture. All genotype classes had a high incidence (>80%) of gonadal neoplasia, although it is not clear if this high incidence is a reflection of the introduction of aquaculture into the area or if neoplasia was a common feature of the population prior to 1993. Regardless, this finding is not consistent with previous reports that neoplasia is more common in hybrid hard clams. Overall, the results of this study provide clear evidence that culture of M. mercenaria can influence the genotype composition of naturally occurring congeneric populations in the vicinity of the culture operation. The long-term implications of that influence remain to be seen.     

文蛤红色选育系幼贝滤水率响应面法分析

为比较文蛤红壳色选育系与江苏野生群体在不同条件下滤水率的差异并找出文蛤最佳滤水率条件,采用了试验生态学方法和响应面法对文蛤红壳色选育系幼贝进行滤水率的研究。试验结果显示,在一定范围内,文蛤幼贝滤水率随盐度、温度和藻类密度的增加而增大,超过一定范围,幼贝滤水率随盐度、温度和藻类密度的增加而减小;在同等条件下,文蛤红壳色选育系幼贝与野生群体滤水率无显著差异,但文蛤红壳色选育系生长速率显著高于野生群体;通过响应面法优化,文蛤红壳色选育系幼贝的最佳滤水率条件为:盐度21.82、温度27.40℃、藻类密度9.96×10^4个/mL,此条件下滤水率的预测值为1.62 mL/(个·min)。     

Effects of Culture Area,Stocking Density,and Shrimp and Fish Polyculture on the Cost Efficiency of Hard Clam,Meretrix meretrix,Culture: A Case Study of Hard Clam Farms in Yunlin,Taiwan

Using the hard clam farms in Yunlin, Taiwan as examples, this study analyzes the effects of culture area, stocking density, and shrimp and fish polyculture on the cost efficiency (CE) of hard clam farming. A data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used to estimate the farms' technical efficiency (TE), allocative efficiency (AE), and CE values. The findings show that the mean TE, AE, and CE values of hard clam farms are 0.74, 0.57, and 0.43, respectively. The TE value is higher than the AE value, which indicates that cost inefficiency is mainly attributable to poor AE. Tobit regression results suggest that there are positive relationships between CE and both culture area and operator experience. Hard clam stocking density and age of the operators have negative effects on CE. Hard clam culture areas larger than 2 ha and a stocking density of 1.1–1.2 million hard clams per hectare have higher CEs than smaller culture areas and smaller or larger stocking densities. The use of sand shrimp, white shrimp, kuruma shrimp, and grass shrimp for polyculture and the use of milkfish and silver sea bream for polyculture are both associated with high CEs.     

小片与蚌间的关系对珍珠质量的影响

本研究采用褶纹冠蚌同一个体自体外套膜小片育珠,结果珍珠质量明显提高。采用三角帆蚌制取外套膜小片植入褶纹冠蚌。结果珍珠质量极差,大多数蚌产不出珍珠;采用褶纹冠蚌制取外套膜小片植入三角帆蚌,结果三分之一的蚌能得到质量高于褶纹冠蚌,产量高于三角帆蚌的珍珠。作者认为供片蚌和受片蚌间相适关系影响珍珠质量,研究如何提高褶纹冠蚌小片在三角帆蚌体内成珠的比率,在生产上是很有意义的。     

Physical properties of soft shell clams, Mya arenaria

Soft shell clams, Mya arenaria, are found from Canada to North Carolina on the U.S. Atlantic Coast and from Canada to California on the U.S. West Coast. They are also found in several other parts of the world including Europe. The primary market for these clams on the U.S. East Coast is in New England. Clams are sold whole live or in one of the several cooked forms. Commercial soft clam shucking and processing is primarily by manual methods. However, physical properties data for these clams is lacking and is a constraint on the automation of processing. Several properties of soft shell clams harvested from five different harvest locations in the Chesapeake Bay are detailed in this paper and relationships between the components of the clam are defined mathematically through regression equations. The live weight and the clam length are related to shell weight, siphon weight, meat weight, total solids and free water in the clams. Meat yields under both standard processing methods and for clams steamed and consumed with only the shell removed are detailed. The effect of harvest area on the clam parts is also defined. Soft shell clams shucked manually result in a meat yield of approximately 29% of the live weight. If steamed and eaten the meat yield may be as high as 43% of the live weight, primarily because the siphon is often consumed in steamed clams.     

Cloning and expression of metallothionein cDNA in the hard clam (Meretrix lusoria) upon cadmium exposure

The objective of this study was to determine whether metallothionein (MT) expression was related to Cd accumulation in hard clams (Meretrix lusoria). We cloned clam MT. Then a specific primer for the hard clam was designed for MT mRNA measurements using real-time PCR. The hard clams were exposed to 50, 200, and 1000 μg/L cadmium (Cd) for 1, 3, 5, and 7 days, to determine the relationship between MT mRNA relative quantity (RQ) levels and Cd accumulation. The following results were obtained: (1) the cloned MT, consisting of 228 bp encoding a protein of 76 amino acids showed higher than 55% identity with the deduced amino acid sequence previously published for another bivalve. (2) Both MT mRNA expression and Cd accumulation appeared to be dose-responsive following cadmium treatment for 1, 3 and 5 days, respectively; however, no time-dependent responses were found. According to these results, MT mRNA expression levels can be used as an indicator to monitor the concentrations of Cd in aquaculture farms.     

胶州湾移植底播菲律宾蛤仔的生长和死亡特性

2004年5月至2005年4月对胶州湾菲律宾蛤仔（Rudimpes philippinarum）底播增殖区进行了逐月定点采样，将样品带回放于实验室内水族箱暂养，每站随机取样，共对3269个个体进行了基本生物学特性测定，研究了移植底播菲律宾蛤仔的生长、死亡等渔业生物学特性。结果表明，底播增殖菲律宾蛤仔苗种的平均个体质量0．26g、平均壳长11．1mm；底播蛤仔与野生蛤仔在生长规律上基本一致，春末至秋初（4～9月）是其主要生长期；1～3龄期间个体生长速度较快，1～2龄、2～3龄，个体质量分别增长3．88g和4．02g；1～2龄生物量增长最快，2～3龄由于死亡率增大，其生物量增长缓慢；1～3龄蛤仔软体部的生长速度快于贝壳，5～6月是菲律宾蛤仔的繁殖肥育期。根据个体生长特性，3龄为最佳采捕年龄；根据目前的养殖状况，2龄蛤仔已达到商品规格，从生物量上分析，采捕2龄蛤仔收益最高；6月是最佳的捕获时期。蛤仔生长具有明显的季节变化，水温是影响菲律宾蛤仔生长的主要环境因子。[中国水产科学，2006，13（4）：642—649]     

牡蛎疱疹病毒对魁蚶的致病性

为探明牡蛎疱疹病毒(Os HV-1)对魁蚶的致病性,本研究使用发病魁蚶组织制作病毒悬液进行感染实验。感染实验分为空白组、阴性悬液注射组和病毒悬液注射组,并使用实时定量PCR法对感染后魁蚶体内病毒的时空分布进行检测。实验结果显示,空白组和阴性悬液组魁蚶感染后未检测到病毒粒子,病毒悬液注射组魁蚶经人工感染后,各部位病毒含量均呈先上升再下降随后又上升的趋势,最终达到106拷贝/ng DNA左右。通过电镜观察,在感染魁蚶的鳃、肝胰腺、外套膜中出现染色质边缘化甚至消失,细胞核肿胀、溶解,核仁消失,核膜扩张、不清晰,线粒体肿大,脊崩解,核糖体脱落等一系列细胞病理变化。在其细胞核和细胞质中均能发现大量直径为90~110 nm球形病毒粒子,该病毒粒子具囊膜,囊膜内可见均匀高电子密度的核衣壳,与自然发病魁蚶负染电镜中的病毒粒子形态相同。研究结果表明,Os HV-1可以感染魁蚶并与魁蚶大规模死亡有直接相关关系;魁蚶感染Os HV-1后机体产生应激反应,对Os HV-1有一定抑制作用,但其作用机制还有待进一步实验验证。     

海马齿生态浮床中泥蚶的生物沉积与呼吸排泄研究

为了研究夏季与秋季泥蚶(Tegillarca granosa)在海马齿(Sesuvium portulacastrum)生态浮床中生理生态活动,利用生物沉积物捕集器与密闭式代谢瓶,对海马齿生态浮床中不同规格泥蚶的生物沉积速率、耗氧率、排氨率和排磷率进行现场实验。结果表明,不同规格泥蚶生物沉积速率、耗氧率、排氨率和排磷率在夏、秋季有明显变化,相同规格泥蚶夏季均大于秋季,相同季节表现为:大个体组中个体组小个体组。夏季和秋季,泥蚶生物沉积速率变化范围分别为0.31~1.09 g/(ind·d)、0.09~0.65 g/(ind·d),耗氧率变化范围分别10.29~19.10 mg/(ind·d)、6.51~13.56 mg/(ind·d),排氨率变化范围分别为0.76~2.63 mg/(ind·d)、0.06~0.28 mg/(ind·d),排磷率变化范围分0.05~0.18 mg/(ind·d)、0.01~0.03 mg/(ind·d)。方差分析显示,季节、龄期及两者交互作用对泥蚶生物沉积速率、耗氧率、排氨率及排磷率均有显著影响。     

美洲帘蛤软体部营养成分分析及评价

美洲帘蛤Mercenariamercenaria(Linnaeus,1758)又称硬壳蛤、北方帘蛤或小圆蛤,原产地分布在美国佛罗里达州Cawrence湾,墨西哥湾,加利福尼亚Hamboldt湾到英格兰海域,与我国的文蛤(Meretrixmeretrix)同属帘蛤科,是一种生长快,适应能力强,适温、适盐范围广,经济价值高的大型双壳贝类[1,2]。目前生产性人工育苗已成功[3],2000年山东省海洋水产研究所由美国引入种贝,2001和2002年连续两年成功地进行了工厂化育苗,滩涂养殖正在逐步走向规模化。本文对美洲帘蛤软体部做了比较全面的营养成分测定分析,并与贻贝等多种双壳贝类进行了比较[4],旨在为…     

Protein expression profiling in haemocytes and plasma of the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum in response to infection with Perkinsus olseni

The protein expression profiling in clam haemocytes and plasma in response to Perkinsus olseni was addressed. Adult Manila clams from a P. olseni‐free bed were experimentally challenged with parasite zoospores to analyse immune response. In another experiment, the effects of longer term infection were assessed in adult clams collected from a P. olseni‐affected bed, by comparing moderate to very heavily infected clams with non‐infected ones. Haemocyte and plasma proteins were separated by two‐dimensional electrophoresis; spot patterns were qualitatively compared between treatments within each experiment and the spots indicating differential protein expression associated with P. olseni challenge or with field infection were processed for protein identification. Fifteen clam proteins (four in haemocytes and eleven in plasma) of which expression was markedly affected by P. olseni were identified. Some of the identified proteins have a well‐known role in clam immune response against the parasite, such as lysozyme and lectins. Rho GTPase‐activating protein 6 could be a marker of resistance against P. olseni, which should be further studied.     

多元统计方法和SSR标记对不同海域文蛤及选育群体亲缘关系分析

近年来因文蛤(Meretrix meretrix)异地移养频繁造成遗传背景不明,对种质保护和选择育种工作造成了影响,进而阻碍了产业的持续发展.为挖掘不同海域文蛤群体的种质资源状况,评估子代群体的选育潜力,本实验采用聚类分析、主成分分析、判别分析等多元统计方法以及SSR标记手段对5个不同海域文蛤群体及江苏子三代文蛤选育群...     

Origin identification method by multiple trace elemental analysis of short-neck clams produced in Japan, China, and the Republic of Korea

The correlations among the contents of trace elements in the shells of short-neck clams collected from Japan, China, and the Republic of Korea were examined. Origin-specific elemental content patterns were seen in clams originating from Japan, China, and the Republic of Korea. The crushed shells were decomposed with nitric acid–hydrogen peroxide, and the concentrations of ten elements (Li, V, Mn, Co, As, Rb, Mo, Ba, Pb, and U) in the shells were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Some of the metal concentrations in the samples displayed clear geographical trends. The average concentration of Pb in Japanese clam shells was one-half to one-quarter that seen in Chinese or Korean clams. Average concentrations of As, Rb, and Ba in shells of Japanese origin were one-half those observed in Chinese or Korean clams. Linear discriminant analysis was applied to these analytical data, and four discriminant models were constructed. These discriminant models were able to distinguish the geographic origins of short-neck clams with 80.0–100 % accuracy. In particular, clams of Japanese origin were classified correctly ≥90 % of the time. Therefore, the trace elemental analysis of a short-neck clam shell is useful for identifying the country of origin of the clam.     

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.     

Hard clam relocation as a potential strategy for QPX disease mitigation within an enzootic estuary

Monitoring of persistent QPX infections in clams of Raritan Bay (New York) shows certain areas of the estuary have remained without any significant disease prevalence. This study was conducted to investigate the potential to mitigate QPX disease by relocating infected hard clams, Mercenaria mercenaria (Linnaeus), from enzootic areas to nearby sites with prevailing environmental conditions suggested to deter infection and favour remission and healing. Clams were collected from a location with consistent disease prevalence in central Raritan Bay and brought to near shore habitats subject to lower salinities and higher summer temperatures. A reduced host density treatment was included in the study to examine the common observation of high clam density in the most persistently infected locales. An additional treatment retained clams above the sediment, since sediments are suspected to represent a QPX reservoir. At the end of the 4‐month study all treatments displayed less QPX disease than the control group and the greatest contrast was provided by the disappearance of infections in a tidal creek.     

Effect of antiprotozoal drugs on the proliferation of the bivalve parasite Perkinsus olseni

The protozoan parasite Perkinsus olseni causes severe losses among Ruditapes decussatus clams. The development of an in vitro culture of this parasite together with the use of a proliferation assay has provided the opportunity to screen for drug sensitivity of this parasite. Xenobiotics known for their antimalarial and antiprotozoal properties were tested against P. olseni. Only four of these drugs, namely cycloheximide, pyrimethamine, deferoxamine (DFO) and 2,2-bipyridyl (BIP), showed in vitro inhibitory effect on the parasite proliferation. Two in vivo experiments were designed to determine the effect of iron chelators on reducing P. olseni infection in clams. For this purpose, naturally infected clams from the Ria Formosa, Portugal, were exposed to DFO and BIP at various concentrations. In the first experiment, hemolymph samples were taken from each clam before and after treatment to determine the infection intensity and in the second experiment, clams were randomly distributed in groups of five and the parasite burden in treated and untreated groups was determined at the end of the experiment on the whole clam wet tissues. Only DFO was found to be effective in reducing in vivo P. olseni infections. In addition, acute toxicity of DFO and BIP has been determined and no mortality of Perkinsus-free clams was observed.     

Hatchery production of diploid and triploid clams, Tapes dorsatus (Lamarck 1818): a potential new species for aquaculture

To assess the potential for hatchery production of the venerid clam, Tapes dorsatus, diploid and triploid clams were produced and ongrown until the spat reached 5–8 mm in size. Triploidy percentages at metamorphosis that ranged from 56 to 85% were induced using a 15-min exposure to 1 mg/l cytochalasin B. No differences were observed in the growth rate of sibling diploid and triploid T. dorsatus larvae. Survival of diploid clams to pediveliger stage was however higher. Post-metamorphic growth and survival of diploid and triploid clams remained the same until the clams were removed from the hatchery to outdoor nurseries. Throughout the larval and early spat phases of production, T. dorsatus growth was similar to that reported for the Manila clam, Tapes philippinarum. Based upon its ease of culture, rapid growth and marketability, T. dorsatus are thought to have considerable aquaculture potential.