Growth rates of five species of surf clams on a southern North Island beach, New Zealand

Abstract

Growth rates of five species of surf clam were estimated on the Kapiti Coast, southern North Island, New Zealand. Length‐frequencies of sequential population samples were analysed by the computer program, MULTIFAN. Incremental growth of marked individuals was analysed by the computer program, GROTAG. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters k and L 8 estimated by MULTIFAN for Spisula aequilatera (Deshayes in Reeve, 1854) were 0.80 yr−1 and 52.1 mm; for Mactra murchisoni Deshayes in Reeve, 1854 were 0.60 yr−1 and 72.3 mm; and for M. discors Gray, 1837 were 0.35 yr−1 and 60.1 mm. MULTIFAN could not model growth of Paphies donacina (Spengler, 1793) and Dosinia anus (Philippi, 1848) from the population samples. The growth parameters estimated by GROTAG for D. anus were 0.53 yr−1 and 53.0 mm and for M. murchisoni 1.84 yr−1 and 72.4 mm. The growth rates of P. donacina, S. aequilatera, and M. discors were estimated for the size range of their incremental growth data and the estimates are usable for this limited size range only. Growth rates of each species varied with depth in the surf zone in the same way in the North and the South Island. The growth rate of two species was faster in the South Island and asymptotic size of all species was greater in the South Island.