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1 August 2007 INFLUENCES OF PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL VARIABLES ON SOFTSHELL CLAM (MYA ARENARIA LINNEAUS 1758) BURIAL
JULIE PARISEAU, BRUNO MYRAND, GASTON DESROSIERS, LISE CHEVARIE, MICHEL GIGUÈRE
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Abstract

Stock enhancement of the infaunal bivalve, Mya arenaria, is becoming an increasingly important strategy for fisheries managers and the clamming industry in eastern Canada and the New England states. There is also a growing interest towards softshell clam culture. A fast burial after the seeding should decrease (1) passive dispersion by currents and waves; (2) exposure to extreme changes in temperature; and (3) predation by crabs, flatfishes, birds, and similar. Thus, a fast burial could reduce losses shortly after seeding and possibly benefit later harvests. However, little is known about factors acting on burial. This study provides clam growers in our area with general guidelines to better manage their seeding operations. Five factors possibly influencing the burial rate were examined in the present study: clam size, seeding density, emersion period prior to seeding, substratum softening prior to seeding, and seasonal period. Most experiments were performed in field conditions on sandy beaches in Iles-de-la-Madeleine, (southern Gulf of St. Lawrence). Only clam size and seasonal period showed significant effects. Clam size (15–40 mm SL) was inversely related to burial rate. Clams buried faster in late August when water temperature reached 23°C and then slowed down steadily as temperature dropped to 7°C in early October. An increase in clam density from 100–350 clams (25–30 mm SL) · m−2 had no negative effects on burial rate as well as emersion periods up to 4 h prior to seeding. Softening of the sandy substratum had no positive effects on burial rate.

JULIE PARISEAU, BRUNO MYRAND, GASTON DESROSIERS, LISE CHEVARIE, and MICHEL GIGUÈRE "INFLUENCES OF PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL VARIABLES ON SOFTSHELL CLAM (MYA ARENARIA LINNEAUS 1758) BURIAL," Journal of Shellfish Research 26(2), 391-400, (1 August 2007). https://doi.org/10.2983/0730-8000(2007)26[391:IOPABV]2.0.CO;2
Published: 1 August 2007
KEYWORDS
burial
Mya arenaria
Seeding
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