Growth performance and model fitting of the selected strain of scallop “Hongmo No. 1” cultivated during different seasons

Abstract

To identify the most suitable model to describe the growth of the selected strain of scallop “Hongmo No. 1” (Bohai Red♂ X Argopecten irradians concentricus♀), we analyzed the length/weight-at-age data of scallops reared communally in the same sea area. Our goal was to evaluate the influence of the autumn-winter-spring and spring-summer-autumn cultivation seasons on condition factors and established growth models (logistic, Gompertz, Von Bertalanffy, and Brody). We used three condition factors and the actual cultivation situation to assess the ability of the models to predict future growth. The results showed that growth performance in autumn-winter-spring is better than that during spring-summer-autumn in terms of shell length, shell height, shell width, body weight, adductor muscle weight, shell weight, and survival rate (P < 0.05). As a consequence of the study, it was determined that the Gompertz model best fit the shell length and logistic model best fit body weight in autumn-winter-spring. In addition, the Von Bertalanffy model best fit shell length and the logistic model best fit body weight in spring-summer-autumn. Our results suggest that the selected strain of scallop “Hongmo No. 1” grows better in autumn-winter-spring than spring-summer-autumn. These findings can be used to improve and promote its cultivation in southern waters.