Bibliography
DISTRIBUTION AND POPULATION STRUCTURE OF Arca noae IN THE PAŠMAN CHANNEL
2009, 67 (1) p. 3-10
Melita Peharda, Nika Stagličić, Daria Egzeta, Nedo Vrgoč, Igor Isajlović, Svjetlana Krstulović-Šifner
Abstract
Noah’s Ark shell Arca noae is an edible bivalve that is commercially exploited in the eastern Adriatic and is harvested primarily by SCUBA divers. There are no reliable data catch statistics data for this species nor there any data on distribution and population biology of exploited stocks, all of which are crucial for establishing sustainable level of exploitation. The objective of this research was to determine distribution and population structure of A. noae in one of the harvesting area — Pašman channel. Study was conducted in May 2008 using SCUBA visual census method at six transects. Although there are no previous data on distribution of A. noae in this area, low population density, length frequency distribution with domination of individuals smaller than 5 cm and sex ratio analysis all indicate that present level of harvesting is unsustainable.
Keywords
adriatic sea, arca noae, pašman channel, population structure