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Suspended cultivation of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas in the Eastern Tropical Pacific

Aquaculture International volume 26, pages 337–347 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

The Pacific or Japanese oyster, Crassostrea gigas, was introduced into Ecuador in 1990; however, little is known about its cultivation in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. This study analyzes growth and the influence of environmental factors on two cohorts of C. gigas held in pearl nets suspended from a long line, in Ayangue Bay, Santa Elena Province, Ecuador. Juveniles of 4.8 ± 0.11 mm (cohort I) and 7.3 ± 0.11 mm (cohort II) shell length remained in suspended cultivation for 7 months (beginning August 2014) and 9 months (beginning March 2015), respectively. Intra-monthly, (during the first 2 months), monthly, and bi-monthly sampling of the dorsoventral length, dry biomass of the shell and soft tissues, and the fouling on the shell were determined. Temperature (in a continuous pattern), weekly salinity, and total seston and phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a) were determined. Results show that available food, indicated by chlorophyll a, and temperature allowed an adequate development of oysters in culture. Growth in shell size and soft tissues increased with higher temperatures. Crassostrea gigas could reach commercial size in less than 1 year of cultivation. Results of this study demonstrate the biological potential for Japanese oyster culture along the Ecuadorian coast.

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Acknowledgements

The research was carried out as a complementary part of the project “Development of domestication protocol for the sustainable use of new marine species for food consumption and repopulation of natural banks”, financed by the Secretary of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation of Ecuador (SENESCYT). César Lodeiros participated in the study during his relationship with CENAIM-ESPOL through the Prometeo project of SENESCYT, Ecuador.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Centro Nacional de Acuicultura e Investigaciones Marinas, CENAIM, 30.5, Vía Perimetral, Guayaquil, Ecuador

    C. Lodeiros, D. Rodríguez-Pesantes, A. Márquez, J. Revilla & S. Sonnenholzner

  2. Instituto Oceanográfico de Venezuela, Universidad de Oriente, P. O. Box 245, Cumaná, 6101, Venezuela

    C. Lodeiros

  3. Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Unidad Sonora, postal mail 349, 85454, Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico

    J. Chávez-Villalba

Authors
  1. C. Lodeiros
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  2. D. Rodríguez-Pesantes
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  3. A. Márquez
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  4. J. Revilla
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  5. J. Chávez-Villalba
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  6. S. Sonnenholzner
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Correspondence to C. Lodeiros.

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Lodeiros, C., Rodríguez-Pesantes, D., Márquez, A. et al. Suspended cultivation of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Aquacult Int 26, 337–347 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-017-0217-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-017-0217-z

Keywords

  • Growth
  • Japanese oyster
  • Mollusks
  • Ostreidae
  • Pacific oyster
  • Tropical pacific