Survival analysis of tethered juvenile sea scallops Placopecten magellanicus in field experiments: effects of predators, scallop size and density, site and season

• Published in: Marine ecology. Progress series (Halstenbek) 1994, Vol.115 (3), p.243-256
• Main Authors: Barbeau, M. A., Scheibling, R. E., Hatcher, B. G., Taylor, L. H., Hennigar, A. W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Asterias; Cancer irroratus; Crabs; Life tables; Marine; Mortality; Placopecten magellanicus; Predators; Scallops; Seeding; Starfish; Survival analysis; Water temperature; Young animals
• ISSN: 0171-8630; 1616-1599
• DOI: 10.3354/meps115243

The impact of predation on survival of juvenile sea scallops Placopecten magellanicus has important implications for the population dynamics and aquaculture of this species. In field experiments using tethered juvenile scallops, we examined the effect of biological and physical factors, such as prey size, predator and prey density, water temperature (season) and site, on mortality rates of scallops in Lunenburg Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada. The major predators of juvenile scallops were crabs Cancer irroratus and sea stars Asterias spp. In an experiment manipulating scallop density, crab predation rate increased significantly with scallop density, but crab density did not, suggesting a functional response. Sea star predation rate on scallops was not affected by scallop density. In a series of experiments with different size classes of scallops tethered at different sites and seasons, and in different densities of surrounding scallops and predators, the effects of covariates on scallop survival times were assessed using the statistical procedure of survival analysis. Since the tethering technique affected crab and sea star predation differently, the competing causes of scallop mortality were analysed separately. Water temperature, site, and scallop density were the important variables affecting crab predation. There was a significant interaction between temperature and site, such that crab predation on scallops increased with temperature at one site and was independent of temperature at the other site. Predation by crabs also increased with scallop density and, to a lesser extent, with crab density. Water temperature and scallop size were the primary variables affecting sea star predation. Sea star predation on scallops increased with temperature and decreased with scallop size. The results of this study suggest options for minimizing predation of scallops by crabs and sea stars in bottom culture operations.