engleski

Age and growth of Venus verrucosa (Bivalvia: Veneridae) in the eastern Adriatic Sea

The growth rates of Venus verrucosa collected from five locations in the eastern Adriatic Sea, were studied using shell-sectioning techniques. At each sampling site, mean shell lengths at ring formation were asseessed and von Bertalanffy growth curves fitted. Asymptotic length (Linf) values ranged between 48.2 mm (Istria) to 57.9 mm (Pag Bay) and the growth coefficient (k) from 0.2 year-1 (Pag Bay) to 0.3 year-1 (Istria). Values of phi-prime index (ø') ranged from 6.4 (Starigrad-Paklenica) to 6.7 (Kaštela Bay). Marginal growth increments analysed for individuals collected monthly inform Kaštela Bay showed an annual periodicity. That is, translucent (slow growth) increments were added during summer, while opaque (fast growth) increments were deposited during other seasons. Individuals older than ten years were poorly represented in the samples. The obtained data indicate possible differences in levels of exploitation and illustrate the need to establish long-term strategies for the sustainable exploitation of V. verrucosa in the eastern Adriatic.

Adriatic Sea ; bivalve age ; growth ; annual periodicity ; sustainable harvesting

nije evidentirano