US EPA

9417597 

Journal Article 

Ecological and morphological features of the bivalve Astarte borealis (Schumacher, 1817) in the Baltic Sea near its geographical range 

Zettler, ML 

2002 

1 

Journal of Shellfish Research
ISSN: 0730-8000
EISSN: 1943-6319 

21 

1 

33-40 

WOS:000176764900006 

During 1999 and 2000 macrozoobenthos surveys were made in the Mecklenburg Bight (western Baltic Sea). In total 116 stations were investigated between March and September. Astarte borealis showed a wide distribution at depths between 12 and 26.5 in. Mean abundance at these depths was 47 ind./m(2) with a biomass (AFDW) of 0.5 g/m(2). Maximum densities observed at these depths were 541 ind./m(2) and 16 g/m(2), respectively. In comparison to a data set of the 1960s. a decreased A. borealis population was found. A. borealis ranged from 1.2 to 28.7 mm in shell length. Most (78%) individuals in the population measured <10-mm shell length, indicating strong recruitment in the Bight during recent years. Larger size classes (>20 mm) were observed only sporadically and in low numbers. Shell length to wet weight and ash free dry weight correlations are given. Mean wet meat yield was 14.5%. The individual ash free dry weight decreased with increasing shell length from 9.1 % (<5 mm) to 5.6% (>25 mm) with a mean value of 7.4%. All results were compared with data from populations in Russian Arctic and adjacent waters. 

Astarte borealis; distribution; abundance; size; meat yield; Baltic Sea; Mecklenburg Bight