Growth and survival of the winged pearl oyster Pteria sterna (Gould, 1851) in suspended culture in the tropical Eastern Pacific: Influence of environmental factors

Abstract
The growth, survival and influence of environmental factors were analysed in two
cohorts of cultured Pteria sterna in Ayangue Bay, Province of Santa Elena, Ecuador
(tropical Eastern Pacific). Juveniles representing cohorts I and II (8.4 ! 0.54 and
5.0 ! 0.17 mm in dorso-ventral axis) were deployed in November 2015 and Febru-
ary 2016, and grown in pearl nets suspended in a long line for 12 and 10 months
respectively. The stocking density was monthly and bi-monthly reduced during sam-
pling of individuals to determine growth in dorso-ventral shell axis, dry mass of
shell, soft tissues and dry mass of fouling on shell. Water temperature, salinity, total
seston and phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a) were determined at the culture
site. Results showed that P. sterna reached ~100 mm in length during the first year
of culture. Although little negative influence of environmental factors was detected,
high temperatures during the reproduction period can be the most negative influen-
tial trait. The highest tissue mass (6 g), which occurred at the 10th month of cultiva-
tion, as well as a high availability of spat by artificial collectors in the coastal waters,
showed that the species can be considered a good candidate for aquaculture in the
tropical eastern Pacific.

K E Y W O R D S
American Pacific, aquaculture, growth, pearl oyster, tropics

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