Induced spawning, larval rearing, and innate diet analysis of Indian black clam, Villorita cyprinoides: An alternative to resource restoration through aquaculture.

Villorita cyprinoides (Gray, 1825) also called the Indian black clam is a native species from the Indian peninsula directly related to the livelihood of many beneficiaries. The wild population of this Cyrenid clam is confronted with substantial challenges, including various climatic stressors and anthropogenic pressures such as overfishing and habitat destruction. A balance between capture fisheries and aquaculture through the development of hatchery technology is inevitable for ensuring the sustainable use of resources. The declining population of V. cyprinoides underscores the urgency of standardizing breeding protocols and implementing proper farming practices to foster a sustainable black clam fishery, given that Villorita is a potential candidate species for aquaculture. This paper describes the first successful induced spawning of the clam with successful rearing of larvae up to the umboned veliger stage and evaluates the efficacy of induced spawning through combined physical and chemical stimuli. Furthermore, our study employs eDNA metabarcoding to analyze plankton dynamics in waters from native clam beds. This sheds light on the potential microalgal dietary preferences of the species, which can be valuable in preparing diets for larval development and aquaculture in the future. • The first successful report on induced spawning in Villorita cyprinoides was achieved through physical and chemical stimuli. • Induced spawning indicated, V. cyprinoides as a potential candidate species for aquaculture with streamlined protocols. • Statistical analyses showed a significant correlation between physical stimuli and spawning. • eDNA metabarcoding revealed the dominant biota in the natural bed of black clams during peak breeding season. • The effective implementation of NGS provides initial insights into the advancements of artificial diet formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]