Abstract
In this study, the release effects of the buried clamMeretrix meretrixin a northern estuary of China (Shuangtaizi Estuary) was assessed in terms of population ecology and genetic variability by using longer-term monitoring data from 2011 (used as the baseline data) to 2018. A total of 2.4 × 108hatchery juveniles were released from 2012 to 2014, and follow-up monitoring survey of the growth, distribution, density, and biomass ofM. meretrixpopulation was carried out. Results showed a temporary spike in the population ofM. meretrix, and the population underwent considerable year-to-year fluctuations in total abundance and biomass. Meanwhile, the age structure of the populations from 2011 to 2018 is still an unstable expanding type. Genetic analysis based on 10 polymorphic microsatellite markers revealed no significant genetic differentiation and weak genetic structures between years but higher genetic diversities in 2014–2018 than in the initial period (2013) of stock restoration. Our study suggests that effective policies for management and conservation to restoreM. meretrixpopulation by local governments are still needed in the long run.
Highlights
Stock enhancement has been considered as one of the most popular tools in fishery management approach involving the release of hatchery-reared juveniles (Laikre et al, 2010; Kitada et al, 2019)
The clam M. meretrix used to be the dominant species of these intertidal flats, but its population extensively declined starting from the 1990s due to overfishing, habitat deterioration, and diseases (Chen et al, 2012; Zhang, 2015)
The average abundance and biomass after the clam stock enhancement were approximately four and two times than those before the clam stock enhancement, respectively. These results suggested that the self-reproduction ability of M. meretrix population was gradually restored to a certain extent after successive artificial releasing of M. meretrix juveniles
Summary
Stock enhancement has been considered as one of the most popular tools in fishery management approach involving the release of hatchery-reared juveniles (Laikre et al, 2010; Kitada et al, 2019). Starting from the 1860s, enhancement programs of Salmonidae were implemented in America, Canada, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan (Hamasaki and Kitada, 2006; Chen H. et al, 2019; Tang, 2019). From the 1930s, marine stock enhancement programs were initiated in China (Zhou, 2004). The marine stock enhancement programs gradually formed a scale in China from the 1980s and rapidly grew into a large scale from 2000 M. et al, 2019; Zhou et al, 2019)
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