1. AGE AND GROWTH OF THE NORTHERN QUAHOG MERCENARIA MERCENARIA (LINNAEUS, 1758) BETWEEN NEIGHBORING HABITATS IN TOKYO BAY, JAPAN
- Author
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Katayama, Satoshi, Kobayashi, Yutaka, Hayashi, Toshihiro, and Ishii, Mitsuhiro
- Subjects
Tokyo Bay -- Natural history -- Environmental aspects ,Age -- Measurement -- Environmental aspects ,Habitat (Ecology) -- Comparative analysis -- Environmental aspects ,Quahogs -- Growth -- Environmental aspects ,Company growth ,Biological sciences ,Zoology and wildlife conservation - Abstract
The age and growth of northern quahogs Mercenaria mercenariu (=hard clam) from inner Tokyo Bay, central Japan, were investigated by observing the annuli in their hinge teeth. The ages in the shallow and deep areas are 2-9+ and 1-13+, respectively. Significant differences in growth between clams found in the shallow and deep areas were detected. The growth coefficient and shell length of clams of a particular age in the shallow area were greater than those in the deep areas. Northern quahogs in both shallow and deep areas were confirmed to spawn around summer. A larger gonadosomatic index and a higher proportion of spawning individuals were found in shallow areas. These results indicate that shallow habitats provide enhanced conditions for somatic development in northern quahogs in this region. KEY WORDS: Mercenariu mercenaria, growth function, shell sectioning, INTRODUCTION The northern quahog (=hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria inhabits shallow water from the intertidal zones to approximately 10m depth (Walker & Tenore 1984, Walker & Sweeney-Reeves 2000). The native distribution [...]
- Published
- 2023
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