Grown-out of seeds of the taquilla clam Mulinia edulis en la zona submareal en el norte y en la zona intermareal en el sur de Chile

• Published in: Latin american journal of aquatic research 2012-11, Vol.40 (3), p.694
• Main Authors: Abarca, Alejandro, Oliva, Doris, Gutierrez, Rodrigo, Celis, Angela, Duran, L. Rene
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• ISSN: 0718-560X; 0718-560X
• DOI: 10.3856/vol40-issue3-fulltext-17

Seeds of the clam Mulinia edulis produced in a hatchery were grown in bottom cages in the subtidal zone of Tongoy Bay (northern Chile) and in the intertidal zone of Chullec (Chiloe Island, southern Chile), to compare the growth and survival of small and large seeds of the same production in different environments and latitudes. Seeds were shipped twice to Chullec, once in summer and once in winter. Previous experiments with seed transportation (14.2 ± 2.4 mm) showed that they are able to survive more than 24 h out of water. The growth rate of both large and small seeds was greater in Tongoy than in Chullec, reaching maxima of 1.24 mm [month.sup.-1] in the small seeds of Tongoy and 1.06 mm [month.sup.-1] in the same group in Chullec. The growth rates obtained for M. edulis were similar to those described for other cultured clams. Seeds grown in Chullec presented a significantly greater weight by size than the seeds grown in Tongoy. Survival after 12 months was 38% and 88% in Tongoy and 19.4% and 37.3% in Chullec for small and large seeds, respectively. Seeds produced in hatcheries are able to withstand long travel (1,360 km) and grow in the intertidal zone of southern Chile, where the operation of the culture is simple and cheap. The growth curve presents an inflection point around 20 mm length, probably related to the age at sexual maturity. Growing out seeds in the intertidal zone in southern Chile is seen as a new activity for artisanal fishermen. Keywords: clam seeds, subtidal, intertidal culture, growth, survival, Chile. Semillas de la almeja Mulinia edulis producidas en el Hatchery de Pesquera San Jose (Tongoy) fueron engordadas en sistemas de fondo en la zona submareal de bahia Tongoy e intermareal en Chullec (Chiloe), para comparar el crecimiento y la supervivencia de semillas pequenas y grandes de una misma produccion en diferentes ambientes y latitudes. Se realizaron dos envios de semillas a Chullec, uno en verano y otro en invierno. Experimentos de simulacion del transporte de semillas (14,2 [+ o -] 2,4 mm) muestran que estas sobreviven al transporte por mas de 24 h. La tasa crecimiento de las semillas grandes y pequenas fue mayor en Tongoy que en Chullec, alcanzando un maximo de 1,24 mm [mes.sup.-1] en las semillas chicas de Tongoy y de 1,06 mm [mes.sup.-1] para el mismo grupo en Chullec. Las semillas engordadas en Chullec presentaron un peso significativamente mayor e igual talla que las de Tongoy. La supervivencia, despues de 12 meses, de las