Abstract
BackgroundThe gametogenic cycle of Crassostrea gigas, a species imported into the Mediterranean for aquaculture, has been studied (May 2005 to July 2006) in two contrasting habitats of Tunisia: the Bizert lagoon, where oyster farms have been developed since 1970, and the Gulf of Tunis, where oysters have been experimentally farmed during this study, to assess the potential of this latter marine area for sustaining oyster-culture.ResultsThe sexual cycle of the species was described through the histological examination of the gonads, the estimation of oocytes diameter, and the assessment of its condition and gonadal condition indices. The applied techniques gave similar results. The gametogenic cycle of C. gigas was precocious and more intense in oysters farmed within the lagoon than in the marine area, considering as well gonadal growth, maturation stages and gametes release.ConclusionsThe obtained results are probably related with the different environmental conditions of the studied habitats, temperature and food supply, in particular. The sexual cycle of the species was successfully completed in the marine area, stressing the invasive character of C. gigas.
Highlights
The gametogenic cycle of Crassostrea gigas, a species imported into the Mediterranean for aquaculture, has been studied (May 2005 to July 2006) in two contrasting habitats of Tunisia: the Bizert lagoon, where oyster farms have been developed since 1970, and the Gulf of Tunis, where oysters have been experimentally farmed during this study, to assess the potential of this latter marine area for sustaining oyster-culture
The average concentration of chlorophyll a was lower at Port aux Princes” (PP) (0.5 ± 0.4 g l−1) than Ferme Marine de Bizerte” (FMB) (0.8 ± 0.6 g l−1); similar temporal trends were observed (Figure 1) with minimum values recorded in December (0.15 g l−1 at both stations) and maximum ones in April (1.75 g l−1and 2.4 g l−1, for PP and FMB, respectively)
Crassostrea gigas was at sexual resting from September to March at both stations; early gametogenesis started earlier in FMB (December) but ended later in PP (April) lasting about three to four months
Summary
The gametogenic cycle of Crassostrea gigas, a species imported into the Mediterranean for aquaculture, has been studied (May 2005 to July 2006) in two contrasting habitats of Tunisia: the Bizert lagoon, where oyster farms have been developed since 1970, and the Gulf of Tunis, where oysters have been experimentally farmed during this study, to assess the potential of this latter marine area for sustaining oyster-culture. Tunisian production of C. gigas oyster is distributed exclusively on local markets and occupies the second position among the countries of North Africa, preceded by Morocco (i.e. 10 t for a value of US $35,000 and 284 t for a value of US $538,000 for Tunisia and Morocco in 2010, respectively). This production remains far from France, which is the first producer in Europe with 95,000 t valued at US $428,905,000 for 2010 [3]
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