Abstract
Pectinidae species are prominent shellfish in the Adriatic Sea, valued for their commercial and ecological importance. Among them, the queen scallop, Aequipecten opercularis, has not yet demonstrated long-term viability in captivity, posing challenges for aquaculture. However, successful aquaculture of A. opercularis could reduce the adverse effects of fishing gear on sea bottoms. The objective of this study is to offer perspectives on how queen scallops adapt to captive conditions, examining their morphometric response and shell growth over three months under different seawater parameters. We assessed the growth rate and hemocyte count in the scallops’ hemolymph, observing growth rate lengths of 0.058±0.174 mm/day in October, 0.003±0.024 mm/day in November, and 0.022±0.026 mm/day in December. Correspondingly, the growth rate weights slightly decreased from 0.022±0.107 g/day in October to 0.003±0.043 g/day in November and 0.008±0.037 g/day in December. Additionally, the total hemocyte count increased significantly over time, peaking in December at 25.846±7.251×10*6 cells/mL. These findings suggest that optimizing environmental conditions, particularly maintaining a temperature around 15°C and ensuring high food quality, can enhance the shell growth and survival rates of queen scallops in captivity. This research identifies key opportunities to improve the culture practices for A. opercularis, contributing to more sustainable aquaculture methods.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
