Title: Gonadal developments in relation to the ecology in the shortneck clam Paphia malabarica in estuarine environment of Ratnagiri, west coast of India

Authors: Swapnaja A. Mohite, Ashish S. Mohite, Hukum Singh Dhakad

Addresses: Department of Fisheries Biology, College of Fisheries, Shirgaon, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India. ' Department of Fisheries Engineering, College of Fisheries, Shirgaon, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India. ' Department of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, Shirgaon, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India

Abstract: Paphia malabarica, from the Kalbadevi estuary experiences fluctuations in major ecological factors, such as salinity, temperature, pH, DO, conductivity and sulphide, which have profound effects on the growth, survival and the gonadal development of the clams. Monthly data of the ecological parameters was collected from February 2005 to January 2006. The correlations of these ecological parameters with each other were studied and significant differences were observed in them. The salinity and the temperature variations have been seen to effect gonadal development in P. malabarica and stimulate the spawning. These clams have shown a single spawning season from September to January.

Keywords: ecology; clams; Paphia malabarica; Kalbadevi estuary; gonadal development; India; estuarine environments; salinity; temperature.

DOI: 10.1504/WRSTSD.2010.032742

World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, 2010 Vol.7 No.4, pp.341 - 351

Published online: 18 Apr 2010 *

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