Growth, Survival and Reproduction of the Giant Clam Tridacna maxima (Röding 1798, Bivalvia) in Two Contrasting Lagoons in French Polynesia

Type Article
Date 2017-01
Language English
Author(s) Van Wynsberge Simon1, 2, Andrefouet Serge2, Gaertner-Mazouni Nabila1, Wabnitz Colette C. C.3, Menoud Mathilde1, 4, Le Moullac GillesORCID4, Levy Peva4, Gilbert Antoine5, Remoissenet Georges6
Affiliation(s) 1 : Univ Polynesie Francaise, Lab Excellence CORAIL, UMR EIO 241, Lab Excellence CORAIL, Faaa, Tahiti, Fr Polynesia.
2 : Univ Reunion, CNRS, Lab Excellence CORAIL, Inst Rech Dev,UMR 9220,ENTROPIE,Inst Rech Dev, Noumea, Nouvelle Caledo, Fr Polynesia.
3 : Pacific Community SPC, Noumea, New Caledonia.
4 : IFREMER, UMR EIO 241, Lab Excellence CORAIL, Taravao, Tahiti, Fr Polynesia.
5 : Ginger Soproner, Noumea, New Caledonia.
6 : Direct Ressources Marines & Minieres, Papeete, Tahiti, Fr Polynesia.
Source Plos One (1932-6203) (Public Library Science), 2017-01 , Vol. 12 , N. 1 , P. e0170565
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0170565
WOS© Times Cited 24
Abstract Shell growth, reproduction, and natural mortality of the giant clam Tridacna maxima were characterized over a two-year-period in the lagoon of the high island of Tubuai (Austral Archipelago) and in the semi-closed lagoon of Tatakoto (Tuamotu Archipelago) in French Polynesia. We also recorded temperature, water level, tidal slope, tidal range, and mean wave height in both lagoons. Lower lagoon aperture and exposure to oceanic swells at Tatakoto than at Tubuai was responsible for lower lagoon water renewal, as well as higher variability in temperature and water level at Tatakoto across the studied period. These different environmental conditions had an impact on giant clams. Firstly, spawning events in the lagoon of Tatakoto, detected by gonad maturity indices in June and July 2014, were timed with high oceanic water inflow and a decrease in lagoon water temperature. Secondly, temperature explained differences in shell growth rates between seasons and lagoons, generating different growth curves for the two sites. Thirdly, local mortality rates were also found to likely be related to water renewal patterns. In conclusion, our study suggests that reef aperture and lagoon water renewal rates play an integral role in giant clam life history, with significant differences in rates of shell growth, mortality and fertility found between open versus semi-closed atoll lagoons in coral reef ecosystems.
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S1 Appendix. Complementary study on giant clam mortality at Tatakoto. 4 428 KB Open access
S1 Fig. Monitoring of gonad maturity indices at Tubuai. 139 KB Open access
S2 Fig. Instantaneous rate of mortality (M) and physical characteristics of the lagoon of Tatakoto from November 2012 to October 2014. 240 KB Open access
S3 Fig. Instantaneous rate of mortality (M) and physical characteristics of the lagoon of Tubuai from April 2013 to December 2014. 325 KB Open access
S4 Fig. Monitoring of stocks from 2004 to 2014 at Tatakoto and Tubuai. 101 KB Open access
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Van Wynsberge Simon, Andrefouet Serge, Gaertner-Mazouni Nabila, Wabnitz Colette C. C., Menoud Mathilde, Le Moullac Gilles, Levy Peva, Gilbert Antoine, Remoissenet Georges (2017). Growth, Survival and Reproduction of the Giant Clam Tridacna maxima (Röding 1798, Bivalvia) in Two Contrasting Lagoons in French Polynesia. Plos One, 12(1), e0170565. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0170565 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00371/48214/