Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T14:06:04.305Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Growth and reproduction of the common whelk Buccinumundatum in west Cotentin (Channel), France

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 October 2011

Clothilde Heude-Berthelin
Affiliation:
UMR Ifremer M100 Physiologie et Ecophysiologie des Mollusques marins, Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, 14032 Caen Cedex, France
Laurence Hégron-Macé
Affiliation:
Syndicat mixte pour l’Equipement du Littoral, 50560 Blainville-sur-mer, France
Véronique Legrand
Affiliation:
Comité régional des Pêches maritimes de Basse Normandie, 34 rue de la Louverie, 50560 Blainville-sur-mer, France
Aude Jouaux
Affiliation:
UMR Ifremer M100 Physiologie et Ecophysiologie des Mollusques marins, Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, 14032 Caen Cedex, France
Béatrice Adeline
Affiliation:
UMR Ifremer M100 Physiologie et Ecophysiologie des Mollusques marins, Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, 14032 Caen Cedex, France
Michel Mathieu
Affiliation:
UMR Ifremer M100 Physiologie et Ecophysiologie des Mollusques marins, Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, 14032 Caen Cedex, France
Kristell Kellner*
Affiliation:
UMR Ifremer M100 Physiologie et Ecophysiologie des Mollusques marins, Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, 14032 Caen Cedex, France
*
aCorresponding author:[email protected]
Get access

Abstract

The common whelk Buccinum undatum (Neogastropoda, Buccinidae) iswidespread along the north Atlantic coasts of France. In west Cotentin (Normandy), animportant local fishery exists that depends exclusively on this marine resource andrepresents about 90% of French whelk production. Despite successive restrictive measures,fishing yields have decreased since 2000. Shell length frequency distributions ofBuccinum undatum caught in west Cotentin were studied in 2005(N = 2910), in 2007 (N = 2032) and in 2009(N = 4145) ranging from 7 to 85 mm. In order to preserve this fisheryand to characterise the whelk stock at this site, the reproductive biology of this specieswas studied in relation to age, sex and size, for whelks of commercial size (45 to 61 mm)over the complete annual cycle in 2008. Age was determined by reading the number ofoperculum striae: animals between 45 and 59 mm had 2 to 4 striae. Four reproductive stageswere defined for males and females on the basis of histological analysis. The time courseof reproductive events was described according to size and sex: the highest percentages ofripe stages were found in October for both sexes. Spawning events occurred between Octoberand December. The shell length that corresponded to 50% of animals having mature gonads(49 mm and 52 mm for males and females, respectively, corresponding to 3 and 4 years oldanimals) exceeded the minimal landing size (45 mm). Fifty percent maturity was reached formales in their third year and for females in their fourth year. Reproductive investmentwas evaluated by quantitative analysis of the gonadal thickness or surface and was foundto be proportional to shell size. We found that less than 20% of females under 49 mm inlength were sexually mature and that these produced only a few eggs. This information,collected in a major fishing area, should assist fishery management decisions.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, IFREMER, IRD 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Averbuj, A.,Bigatti, G.,Penchaszadeh, P.E., 2010, Gametogenic cycle and size at first maturity of the patagonic edible snail Buccinatops cochlidium from Argentina. Mar. Biol. 157, 22292240. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brokordt, K.,Guderley, H.,Guay, M.,Gaymer, C.F.,Himmelman, J.H., 2003, Sex differences in reproductive investment: maternal care reduces escape response capacity in the whelk Buccinum undatum. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 291, 161180. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Evans, S.M.,Nicholson, G.J., 2000, The use of imposex to assess tributyltin contamination in coastal waters and open seas. Sea Total Environ. 258, 7380. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cadée, C.G., Boon, J.P., Fischer, C.V., Mensink, B.P., Ten Hallers-Tjabbes, C.C., 1995, Why the whelk (Buccinum undatum) has become extinct in the Dutch Wadden Sea. Neth. J. Sea Res. 34, 337339. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gabe M., 1968, Techniques histologiques. Masson et Cie, Univ. Paris VI.
Golikov, A.N., 1968, Distribution and variability of long-lived benthic animals as indicators of currents and hydrological conditions. Sarsia 34, 199208. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hancock, D.A., 1963, Marking experiments with the commercial whelk (Buccinum undatum). Int. Comm. Northwest Atl. Fish. Spec. Publ. (ICNAF) 4, 176187. Google Scholar
Henderson S., Simpson C., 2006, Size at sexual maturity of the Shetland Buckie Buccinum undatum. NAFC, Shetland Marine Centre Fisheries Development, Note 20.
Himmelman, J.H.,Hamel, J.R., 1993, Diet, behavior and reproduction of the whelk Buccinum undatum in the northern Gulf of St Lawrence, eastern Canada. Mar. Biol. 116, 167178. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ilano, A.S.,Ito, A.,Fujinaga, K.,Nakao, S., 2004, Age determination of Buccinum isaotakii (Gastropoda: Buccinidae) from the growth striae on operculum and growth under laboratory conditions. Aquaculture 242, 181195. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kideys, A.E., 1996, Determination of age and growth of Buccinum undatum L. (Gastropoda) off Douglas, Isle of Man. Helgol. Meersunters. 50, 353368. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kideys, A.E., Nash, R.D.M., Hartnoll, R.G., 1993, Reproductive-cycle and energetic cost of reproduction of the neogastropod Buccinum- undatum in the Irish Sea. J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK 73, 391403. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martel, A., L’Arrivée, D.H.,Klein, K.R.,Himmelman, J.H., 1986, Reproductive cycle and seasonal feeding activity of the neogastropod Buccinum undatum. Mar. Biol. 92, 211221. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mercier, A.,Hamel, J.F., 2008, Nature and role of newly described symbiotic associations between a sea anemone and gastropods at bathyal depths in the NW Atlantic. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 358, 5769. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morel, G.M., Bossy, S.F., 2004, Assessment of the whelk (Buccinum undatum L.) population around the Island of Jersey, Channel Isles. Fish. Res. 68, 2 83291. Google Scholar
Narvarte, M.A., 2006, Biology and fishery of the whelk Buccinanops globulosum (Kiener, 1834) in northern coastal waters of the San Matıas Gulf (Patagonia, Argentina) Fish. Res. 77, 131137. Google Scholar
Santarelli-Chaurand L., 1985, Les pêcheries de buccin (Buccinum undatum L.: Gastropoda) du golfe Normano-Breton : éléments de gestion de la ressource. Thèse de Doctorat, Université Aix- Marseille.
Santarelli, L.,Gros, P., 1984, Modélisation bioéconomique de la pêcherie de Buccin Buccinum undatum L. : Gasteropoda) du port de Granville (Manche ouest) – Eléments de gestion de la ressource. Rev. Trav. Inst. Pêches Marit. 48, 2332. Google Scholar
Santarelli, L.,Gros, P., 1985, Age and growth of the whelk Buccinum undatum L. (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia) using stable isotopes of the shell and operculum striae. Oceanol. Acta 8, 221229. Google Scholar
Shelmerdine, R.L.,Adamson, J.,Laurenson, C.H.,Leslie, B., 2007, Size variation in populations of the common whelk, Buccinum undatum, over large and small spatial scales: Potential implications for micro-management within fishery. Fish. Res. 86, 201206. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tétreault, F.,Himmelman, J.H.,Measures, L., 2000, Impact of a castrating trematode, Neophasis sp., on the common whelk, Buccinum undatum, in the Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence. Biol. Bull. 198, 261271. CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Valentinsson, D., 2002, Reproductive cycle and maternal effects on offspring size and number in the neogastropod Buccinum undatum (L.). Mar. Biol. 140, 11391147. Google Scholar
Valentinsson, D.,Sjodin, F.,Jonsson, P.R.,Nilsson, P.,Wheatley, C., 1999, Appraisal of the potential for a future fishery on whelks Buccinum undatum) in Swedish waters: CPUE and biological aspects. Fish Res. 42, 215227. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Viglino, L.,Pelletier, E.,Lee, L.E.J., 2006, Butyltin species in benthic and pelagic organisms of the Saguenay Fjord (Canada) and imposex occurrence in common whelk (Buccinum undatum). Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 50, 4559. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
von Bertalanffy, L., 1938, A quantitative theory of organic growth (inquiries on growth laws. II). Human Biol. 10, 181213. Google Scholar