Resumo

CASAS, Paola; VILLALBA, William  e  CRESCINI, Roberta. SPECIFIC PRODUCTION OF ARK-SHELL Arca zebra (Swainson, 1833) AT CHARAGATO BAY, CUBAGUA ISLAND, VENEZUELA. Saber [online]. 2015, vol.27, n.4, pp.659-666. ISSN 2343-6468.

Arca zebra is a major natural resource whose banks are in the northeastern region of the country, where the species is subjected to an artisanal extraction with little control. In order to improve the knowledge on the species, specific production, turnover rate and reproductive effort were evaluated in Charagato Bay, Cubagua during September 2008-August 2009. Monthly samplings were conducted in an area of approximately 100 m2 where representative samples of all sizes was taken, using the apnea diving. The samples were processed in the laboratory, where the animals were measured, weighed and then dissected by somatic compartments. It was found that the production of gametes increased with age of the individual, while the growth of corporal and other body compartments slowed after the first year. It was estimated that the total production of dry biomass reaches a maximum at 24 months of age and then decreases. The reproductive effort increases with the age of the individual, while the turnover rate decreases. It is necessary to continue the evaluation of the biological aspects of this important resource to ensure its sustainable use and avoid possible alteration of the population.

Palavras-chave : Mollusca; Bivalvia; biomass; energy; reproductive effort.

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