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Bivalvia: Pteriidae ICLARM Studies and Reviews 21 The Biology and Culture of Pearl Oysters (Bivalvia: Pteriidae) M.H. GERVIS and N.A. SIMS ODA.. ;1"16,.' LAM,, OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION (ODA) INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR LIVING AQUATIC OF THE UNITED KINGDOM RESOURCES MANAGEMENT LONDON, ENGLAND MANILA, PHILIPPINES The Biology and Culture of Pearl Oysters (Bivalvia: Pteriidae) M.H. GERVIS and N.A. SIMS 1992 VERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION (ODA) INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR LIVING AQUATIC OF THE UNITED KINGDOM RESOURCES MANAGEMENT LONDON, ENGLAND MANILA, PHILIPPINES The Biology and Culture of Pearl Oysters (Bivalvia: Pteriidae) M.H. GERVIS AND N.A. SIMS 1992 Printed in Manila, Philippines Published by the Overseas Development Administration 94 Victoria Street, London SWlE 5JL, Utiited Kingdcm and the International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management, MC P.O. Box 1501, Makati, Metro Manila, Philippires. ICLARM's Technical Series were developed in response to the lack of existing publishing outlets for longer papers on tropical fisheries research. The ICLARM Studies and Reviews series consists of concise documents providing thorough coverage of topics of interest to the Center, which are undertaken by staff or by external specialists on commission. Essentially, all documents in the series are carefolly peer reviewed externally and internally. A number have been rejected. Those published are thus prnimary literature. Between 1,000 and 2,000 copies of each title are disseminated - sold or provided in exchange or free of charge. Gervis, M.H. and N.A. Sims. 1992. The biology and culture of pearl oysters (Bivalvia: Pteriidae). ICLARM Stud. Rev. 21, 49 p. ISSN 0115-4389 ISBN 971-8709.27-4 Cover: Top: Ago Bay, Japan - Home of pearl culture. (Photo by M. Gervis). Bottom, left: P. margaritiferabeing harvested from spat collectors in the Cook Islands. (Photo by N. Sims). Bottom, right: P. margaritiferasuspended on a longline by the ear hanging technique. (Photo by N. Sims). ICLARM Contribution No. 837 CONTENTS ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION History of Pearls and Pearl Culture .......................................................... 1 TAXONOMY AND DISTRIBUTION Taxonom y ...............................................3 ...................................................... Species D escriptions .................................................................................... 4 Pinctadam axima .................................................................................. 4 Pinctadamargaritifera......................................................................... 5 Pinctadafucata .................................................................................... 5 Pteriapenguin........................................................................................... 5 Distribution ................................................ 5 Species Introductions ................................................................................. 8 ECOLOGY ANE BIOLOGY Anato-my ...................................................................................................... 9 Shell ................................................... 9 Footand byssal gland......................................................................... 10 Environm ental Factors ............................................................................. 10 Temperature........................................................................................ 10 Depth ................................................................................................... 11 Salinity................................................................................................. 11 Substrate and silt load ....................................................................... 12 Currents.............................................................................................. 12 Pollution............................................................................................... 12 Food and Feeding ...................................................................................... 13 Reproduction ............................................13.................................................. Sexuality ............................................................................................... 13 Maturity .............................................................................................. 13 Gonaddevelopment .............................................................................. 14 Spawning seasonality......................................................................... 15 Spawningprocess................................................................................ 15 Larvaldevelopment .............................................................................. 15 Growth ......................................................................... 16 ............................ Shell dimensions .................................................................................. 17 Dorsoventral m easurem ent (DVM) ............................................. 17 Anteroposterior measurem ent (APM) ........................................... 17 Hinge length ................................................................................. 17 Heel depth ...................................................................................... 18 Thickness and hinge w idth .......................................................... 18 Weight .................................................................................................. 18 Morphometrics ................................................................................... 18 iii Growth rates........................................................................................ 18 Factorsaffectinggrowth..................................................................... 19 Mortality ..................................................................................................... 19 Predation............................................................................................ 19 Foulingand boring.............................................................................. 20 Parasitesand pathogens ..................................................................... 21 CULTURE OF PEARL OYSTERS Hatchery Culture ...................................................................................... 22 Spawning............................................................................................. 22 Larval rearing...................................................................................... 23 Larvalfeeding ...................................................................................... 23 Aspects of Pearl Oyster Culture (Photo Section) ................ 24-25 Settlement ............................................................................................. 26 Genetics and Hatchery Production ............................................................ 27 Spat Collection ......................................................................................... 27 Nursery Rearing ........................................................................................ 29 Ongrowing ................................................................................................ 30 Rafts..................................................................................................... 31 Longlines and fencelines ..................................................................... 32 Trestle. ................................................................................................ 34 Fouling Control ........................................................................................ 84 Pearl Culture ............................................................................................ 34 Preoperativephase.............................................................................. 35 Sphericalpearlimplant operation...................................................... 35 Pearlformation.................................................................................... 37 Postoperativecare................................................................................ 37 Pearlcultureperiod .............................................................................. 37 Harvesting.......................................................................................... 37 Halfpearlproduction......................................................................... 38 MARKETIN G AND ECONOMICS .................................................................. 39 CON CLUSION S ................................................................................................ 41 ACKN OWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................... 41 REFERE N CES .................................................................................................. 42 iv The Biology and Culture of Pearl Oysters (Bivalvia: Pteriidae) M.H. GERVIS ICLARM CoastalAquaculture Centre P.O. Box 438 Ioniara,Solomon Islands N.A. Sims 73-4369 Old Government Mauka Rd. Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 USA ABSTRACT Pearl oysters are farmed throughout the Indo-Pacific region, including the Red Sea. The biology and ecology of four pearl oyster species from the family Pteriidae, Pinctadafucata, P. maxima, P. margaritiferaand Pteriapenguin, are reviewed here. The culture techniques used for each of these species is described and the research needs, economics
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