Abundancia, crecimiento y mortalidad de una población de Almeja, Leukoma asperrima (Sowerby, 1835) en el estuario del río Chone

Abstract

The abundance, growth and mortality of a clam population, Leukoma asperrima (Sowerby, 1835), was determined in the Chone River estuary between July and December 2016. The collection of the clam specimens was carried out in 5 transects perpendicular to the tide line of 100 meters in length collecting all the organisms contained in the sediment with a square of PVC tube of 1.0 m2. Biometric analysis was performed as total length (mm) and total weight (g) to estimate the population structure, growth parameters (L∞, K, t0, Tmax), growth index (Ø '), total length-total weight ratio, total mortality, natural mortality, fishing mortality and exploitation rate of the resource. L. asperrima presented an abundance and average biomass was 3.50±0.61 ind/m2 and 96.54±15.45 g respectively, with an average total length of 38.64±0.56 mm and average total weight of 27.58±0,80 g. The growth parameters were L∞= 54.60 mm; K= 0.41/year; t0= - 0.34 and Tmax= 6.97. The relation total length and total weight was expressed by the equation Pt= 11.874e0.0201 Lt (r2= 0.11). The estimates of the total mortality rate obtained were Z= 1.16±0.17/year, natural mortality 0.43; fishing mortality 0.73 and exploitation rate 0.63. The values of the parameters of growth and mortalities for this species are the first to be estimated in the estuary of the Chone River and are considered to be useful antecedents for the evaluation and management of the resource.