Length-Weight Relationships of Anodontia edentula in Surigao City Mangroves | InformativeBD

Louella Sajol-Degamon, and Eve V. Fernandez-Gamalinda, from the different institute of the Philippines. wrote a research article about, Length-Weight Relationships of Anodontia edentula in Surigao City Mangroves . entitled, Length – Weight Relationships of Anodontia edentula from Mangrove Habitats of Surigao City, Philippines.This research paper published by the International Journal of Biosciences (IJB).an open access scholarly research journal on Biosciences . under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences | INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the length-weight relationships of Anodontia edentula from mangrove habitats of Surigao City, Philippines. A total of 180 individual clam species used to determine the relationships of shell length (SL), shell height (SH), and shell width (SW) with the total weight (TW) and soft-tissue weight (STW). The paired variables on SL-TW, SH-TW, SL-STW, and SH-STW showed positive allometric growth with b-values ranging from 3.1484 to 3.3798. The relationship of the shell width to the total weight (b=2.6402) and shell width to soft-tissue weight (b=2.7684) showed a negative allometric pattern indicating the growth in shell width is faster than its weight. It implies that the larger the species, the smaller its soft tissue. The highest correlation values recorded were in SH – TW (r2=0.9372), and SH – STW (r2=0.8701) relationships denote that shell height is a good weight growth estimator for A. edentula from the mangrove habitats of Surigao City, Philippines. Further studies along this line may be conducted for the conservation, management, and production of A. edentula species.

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Introduction

Mangroves play ecological importance to the ecosystem and an economic significance to coastal communities. They are essential in stabilizing and protecting shorelines from erosion as their root systems help induce current velocities and hold sediments (Selvam and Karunagaran, 2004; Yahya et al.,2018). They provide suitable refuge for various fishes and shellfishes (Ellison, 2012; Mendoza et al., 2019). Fisheries products from mangroves are essential for food security and income. Popular among these species are crustaceans and bivalve mollusks like Anodontia edentula (Primevera et al., 2002).

Anodontia edentula Linne 1758, a mangrove clam species, is locally known as “imbao” (Ryan, 2000) or “libo-o” (in Surigaonon dialect) belonging to Class Bivalvia, Order Veneroida, and Family Lucinidae (WoRMS, 2019). It inhabits 30 – 90 cm deep in the muddy bottom of mangrove areas or adjacent mudflats (Adan, 2000).

It is widespread in the Philippines (Poutiers, 1998; Primevera et al., 2002), and is ample in Visayas and Mindanao (Adan, 2000). It is one of the highly – prized shellfishes, which motivates fishermen to exploit the resources by widespread harvesting that has reportedly damaged mangrove stands (Walters, 1995). With the destruction and over-exploitation of mangroves that serve as home, the mangrove clam A. edentula declined in numbers (Dela and Junelyn, 2004; Enriquez et al., 2017). According to Garcia (1986), A. edentula and other Philippine bivalves of higher market value have become less available.

In the Northeastern part of Mindanao lies Surigao City, where some of its coastal areas covered with mangrove ecosystems providing habitats for mangrove clam species, Anodontia edentula. Locals collected these species as an essential source of food and livelihood. However, despite its attractive market value, some local middlemen and market vendors complained about the decreasing clam sizes and numbers. Collectors also whined on the physically grueling and risky ways of collecting (i.e., locating clams with bare feet, then digging them with bare hands) with a small catch.

With the economic importance of Anodontia edentula, the use of length–weight relationship (LWR) is essential in generating useful information for the assessment of the growth and production of species (Aban et al., 2017). Allometric relationship established through shell measurement is a nondestructive and straightforward method in estimating biomass and total flesh production (Ross and Lima, 1984). To evaluate soft-tissue growth in bivalve, the robustness between shell morphology and soft – tissue weight should be established (Gimin et al., 2004). Evaluation of relative (allometric) growth provides useful information to understand the development of organisms, as well as to aid in the management of fishery – exploited species (Turra et al., 2018). At present, a sufficiently fine scale of the biological data of A. edentula inhabiting the mangrove areas of Barangay Nabago is not yet available.

Thus, this study aimed to assess the length–weight relationship of Anodontia edentula from the mangrove habitats of Surigao City using the paired variables, such as (1) shell length and total weight; (2) shell height and total weight; (3) shell width and total weight; (4) shell length and soft tissue weight; (5) shell height and soft tissue weight; and, (6) shell width and soft tissue weight to provide baseline information of A. edentula growth pattern for management and conservation of the said bivalve species.

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Source : Length – Weight Relationships of Anodontia edentula from Mangrove Habitats of Surigao City, Philippines

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