Growth and Survival Performance of Smooth Scallop (Flexopecten glaber Linnaeus, 1758) at Different Depths in the Aegean Sea

Abstract

This study was conducted between July 2016 and 2017 to determine the growth and survival rates of the smooth scallop Flexopecten glaber spats in Urla Karantina Island. The sea water temperature was determined as 21.56±6.33°C, 21.1±6.40°C and 20.87±6.35°C at 2, 4 and 6 m depths, respectively. Salinity values varied between 36 and 38.19 PSU in the region. The highest chlorophyll-a value was determined as 8.95 µg l-1 in August at 2 m depth and 1.65 µg l-1 as the lowest at 4 m depth in January. Average values of total particulate matter amount were calculated as 4.41±1.86 mg l-1, 5.09±1.88 mg l-1 and 5.47±1.89 mg l-1 at 2, 4 and 6 m depth, respectively. Scallop spats with an average height of 8.26±1.55 mm were measured at the beginning of the study. The heights of the smooth scallop spats, which were placed at 2 m, 4 m and 6 m depths in the study area, were 42.6±1.11 mm, 41.53±12.85 mm and 41.57±1.64 mm and their weights were measured as 12.71±0.89 g, 12.85±0.53 g and 12.82±1.00 g, respectively. While the survival rate was 53% placed at 2 m depth in the study area, the lowest survival rate was found as 37% for the spats grown at 6m depth. The result showed that the mean values of height at the surface depth (2 m) were more significant than those at the other depths (4 m and 6 m). However, there were no statistically significant differences between the depths and specific growth rate (SGR) for height and weight (p>0.05). But SGRh and SGRw values at each depth showed statistically significant differences between months (p<0.05).