Population biology and secondary production of theharvested clam Tivela mactroides (Born, 1778) (Bivalvia, Veneridae) in Southeastern Brazil

Abstract

The population structure, growth and production of the trigonal clam Tivela mactroides were investigated by monthly sampling between January 2003 and October 2004 in two areas (southern and northern) of the intertidal and sub-tidal zones of Caraguatatuba Bay, Southeastern Brazil. Intertidal sampling was carried out in each area along eight transects perpendicular to the shoreline. In the subtidal zone of both areas, one 50-m dredging was performed along five sampling stations arranged on three transects perpendicular to the coast. The intertidal abundance of T. mactroides was higher in the southern (more dissipative conditions) than in the northern area. High abundances occurred in February–March 2004 in the south and in September 2004 in the north. The size structure showed that younger individuals dominated in the sublittoral, indicating that recruitment occurs in this zone, followed by the migration of these individuals to the intertidal, where they complete their life cycle. Tivela mactroides showed continuous reproduction, with 26 cohorts detected in the study period. The lower estimates for the growth index (/′=3.22), mortalityrate (Z=2.10 year1) and turnover rate (P/B=1.21 year1), and conversely the longer life span (2.5 years) ofT. Mactroides in Caraguatatuba Bay (24° S)compared with Venezuelan populations (10°N) suggests a latitudinal pattern of these life-history traits. The high production of T. mactroides in raguatatuba Bay was due to continuous recruitment and rapid and continuous growth, and demonstrates the importance of T. mactroides as a biological resource for many marine species and for the local residents.