FIRST DATA ON LARVAL AND SPAT GROWTH OF BIVALVE CALLISTA CHIONE (LINNAEUS, 1758) UNDER CULTURE CONDITIONS

摘要

There is a growing interest in diversifying shellfish aquaculture in the western Mediterranean coast. Spain leads both bivalve consumption and production of the smooth clam Callista (=Cytherea) chione (Linnaeus, 1758). However, limited information isavailable on its biological behaviour (Leontarakis and Richardson, 2005) or reproductive cycle (Tirado et al., 2002). In addition, there is no published protocol for spawning induction, larval and spat growth or culture of smooth clam to date. This studyaimed to getting basic information about growth of larvae and spat of C. chione for aquaculture purpose.