Regional Studies in Marine Science | 2019
Population dynamics of edible wedge clam, Donax lubricus Hanley 1845 (Bivalvia: Donacidae): A first study in Asia
Abstract
Abstract Management of mollusc resources requires knowledge of various population parameters and exploitation level of the population. FAO-ICLARM Stock Assessment Tools was used for calculating population parameters of edible wedge clam Donax lubricus. The specimens of D lubricus were collected from Panambur sandy beach at monthly intervals from March 2008 to February 2009. Asymptotic length ( L ∝ ) was 26.25\xa0mm and growth coefficient (K) was estimated at 0.83 year−1. The sizes attained by D. lubricus were 14.80, 21.26 and 24.07\xa0mm in the first, second and third years respectively. Longivity of this clam in the present study was 3 years and 2 months. Density of the population ranged from 78 to 30,862 ind./m2. Total mortality (Z) for D. lubricus was 4.04 year−1. Natural mortality (M) and fishing mortality (F) were 0.83 year−1 and 3.21 year−1 respectively. Exploitation level (E) was computed as 0.79, indicating that the fishery of D. lubricus in the coastal waters of Karnataka is overexploited.