Abstract

MARCANO, Jesús S.; PRIETO, Antulio; LAREZ1, Asdrúbal  and  SALAZAR1, Hebel. GROWTH OF DONAX DENTICULATUS (LINNÉ, 1758) (BIVALVIA DONACIDAE) IN LA GUARDIA INLET, MARGARITA ISLAND, VENEZUELA . Zootecnia Trop. [online]. 2003, vol.21, n.3, pp.237-260. ISSN 0798-7269.

SUMMARY Donax denliculatus is a dominant member of high energy sandy beach communities of the Venezuelan coasts in the Caribbean Sea, a population of this bivalve was sampled monthly in La Guardia inlet Margarita island, between February 994 and November 1995. Quantitative samples were taken in perpendicular transects at l1 stations to determined length-frequency distribution and growth. The population structure presented a size range between 2 and 32 mm length, being mainly formed by individuals from 14,1 to 22,2 mm, that were dominant from march to October. Recruitrnent rate was low, and the major contribution of recruits was found in October - November 1994 and February - March 1995. The low body weight during November and March seem to be related to the reproductive cycle of this specie. Growth parameters of the von Bertalanffy seasonal growth equation were L8=30.02 mm, k= 1.79 year^-1, C= 0.60 and t_s= 0.2, with a faster growth rate between February - August and a life span of 1.5 year.

Keywords : Seasonal growth; population structure,; Donax denticulalus; Margarita island,; the Guard cove.