Age and productivity of the Antarctic scallop, Adamussium colbecki, in Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica)

• Published in: Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
• Main Authors: HEILMAYER O, T. BREY, W. ARNTZ, CHIANTORE, MARIACHIARA, CATTANEO VIETTI, RICCARDO
• Other Authors: Heilmayer, O, T., Brey, Chiantore, Mariachiara, CATTANEO VIETTI, Riccardo, W., Arntz
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2003
• Subjects: Adamussium colbecki; production; stable isotope analysis; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Austral; Ross Sea; Terra Nova Bay; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11567/251590; https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-0981(03)00020-0

Body size, geographical distribution, and biomass make Adamussium colbecki (Smith, 1902) one of the most conspicuous bivalve species in the Antarctic. Based on samples collected in austral summer 1999/2000 in Terra Nova Bay, the annual formation of shell growth bands visible on X-ray photographs was verified by stable isotope analysis. A general von Bertalanffy growth function was fitted to size-at-age data of 25 individuals (Hl= 108.86 mm, K = 0.114 year 1, t0 =0.367, D= 1.284). Somatic production calculated from mass-specific growth rates was 234.6 kJ m 2 year 1. Gonadal productivity amounted to 70.92 kJ m 2 year 1. Annual somatic and gonad production-to-biomass ratios (P/B) were 0.199 and 0.052, respectively. According to its consumption and production, A. colbecki is likely to play a significant role in the trophic web of Terra Nova Bay.