Reproduction and Nutritional Values of the Edible Limpet Nacella Magellanica (Gastropoda: Patellogastropoda)
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SCIENTIA MARINA 83(3) September 2019, 237-245, Barcelona (Spain) ISSN-L: 0214-8358 https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.04825.06A Reproduction and nutritional values of the edible limpet Nacella magellanica (Gastropoda: Patellogastropoda) Rocío A. Nieto Vilela 1,2, Mariano Cumplido 1, Yamila González Giorgis 2, Mónica N. Gil 3, Gregorio Bigatti 1,2,4 1 LARBIM-IBIOMAR (CONICET), Boulevard Brown 2915 (U9120ACD), Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina. (RANV) (Corresponding author) E-mail: [email protected]. ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8681-0906 (MC) E-mail: [email protected]. ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9776-8865 (GB) E-mail: [email protected]. ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7053-6802 2 Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco (UNPSJB), Boulevard Brown 2915, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina. (YGG) E-mail: [email protected]. ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6977-4114 3 LAQUIAE-CESIMAR (CONICET), Boulevard Brown 2915 (U9120ACD), Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina. (MNG) E-mail: [email protected]. ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9802-0488 4 Universidad Espíritu Santo, Km 2.5 vía Puntilla-Samborondón, Ecuador. Summary: Nacella magellanica is an edible limpet that has been consumed since pre-Hispanic times by human populations along the coasts of Patagonia, but studies of its nutritional value and reproduction are not yet available. We investigated the reproductive cycle and the seasonal variation in the nutritional composition (proteins, lipids and carbohydrates) of the whole body of this limpet in order to analyse some aspects of its importance as a formal fishery resource. Throughout a single year, the spawning period extended over all months except June in males, while females spawned from late winter to spring, with an increase from August to November. The nutritional data obtained for N. magellanica are within the ranges of widely consumed species of molluscs, with annual average values of 29.8% proteins, 2.7% lipids and 1.8% carbohydrates. The best nutritional values for human consumption (highest concentration of proteins, body weight), avoiding the reproductive period, were found in April but taking into account the minimum size of capture. Our results are useful for increasing the policies aimed at managing this abundant edible limpet as a formal resource, since it is widely consumed in southern South America. Keywords: marine gastropods; fishery resources; biochemical composition; reproduction; limpets. Reproducción y valores nutricionales de la lapa comestible Nacella magellanica (Gastropoda: Patellogastropoda) Resumen: Nacella magellanica es un caracol comestible, consumido desde tiempos prehispánicos por poblaciones a lo largo de las costas patagónicas. Sin embargo, aún no existen estudios sobre sus valores nutricionales ni su ciclo reproductivo. En este trabajo se estudió el ciclo reproductivo y la variación estacional en su composición nutricional (proteínas, lípidos y car- bohidratos) en todo el cuerpo de la lapa, para analizar algunos aspectos de su importancia como recurso pesquero formal. El período de liberación de gametas en los machos se extendió a lo largo de todo el año, mientras que en las hembras fue desde el invierno tardío hasta la primavera, con un incremento desde agosto a noviembre. La información nutricional obtenida para N. magellanica se encuentra dentro de los rangos de otras especies de moluscos ampliamente consumidos, con promedios anuales de proteínas de 29.8%, 2.7% de lípidos y 1.8% de carbohidratos. Los mejores valores nutricionales para el consumo humano (mayor concentración de proteínas y peso corporal), evitando el período reproductivo, se encontraron durante abril, aunque habría que tener en cuenta el tamaño mínimo de captura. Nuestros resultados son útiles para incrementar las políticas existentes para el manejo de esta abundante lapa comestible como un recurso formal, ya que es consumida ampliamente en el sur de Sudamérica. Palabras clave: gasterópodos marinos; recursos pesqueros; composición bioquímica; reproducción; lapas. Citation/Como citar este artículo: Nieto Vilela R.A., Cumplido M., González Giorgis Y., Gil M.N., Bigatti G. 2019. Reproduction and nutritional values of the edible limpet Nacella magellanica (Gastropoda: Patellogastropoda). Sci. Mar. 83(3): 237-245. https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.04825.06A Editor: M. Ramón. Received: June 26, 2018. Accepted: April 11, 2019. Published: June 19, 2019. Copyright: © 2019 CSIC. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License. 238 • R.A. Nieto Vilela et al. INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS Marine molluscs are abundant and easy to collect, Sampling and possess healthful properties such as a high propor- tion of proteins and a low level of saturated fatty acids From January to December 2012, 50 specimens (Isay and Busarova 1984, Manzano and Aranda 1998, of Nacella magellanica were collected each month D’Armas et al. 2010), making them a desirable seafood. on the rocky intertidal shore of Punta Ninfas, Chubut Several studies have highlighted the dietary value of ma- (42°58’42”S, 64°18’33”W). The analysis were made rine resources, and particularly of sea snails, for human only with limpets above the maturity size [1.73 cm consumption (Leiva and Castilla 2002, Vasconcelos et high in females and 1.5 cm in males, sensu Nieto Vilela al. 2008, Bigatti et al. 2015). Therefore, knowledge of (2014)]. Unfortunately, no individuals could be col- the nutritional composition of potential marine food can lected during the month of May because the extreme increase the possibilities for alternative foods worldwide. weather conditions made it impossible to access to the Studies on marine invertebrates have demonstrated that sampling site. Punta Ninfas is located in the open sea, the reproductive strategies provide valuable information about 100 km from the city of Puerto Madryn, an area for fisheries regarding marine population dynamics (Un- lacking fishing activity and inhabited by a stable com- derwood 1979, Collin 2003, Bigatti et al. 2008). munity of marine elephants (Mirounga leonina) and Coastal gastropod species such as limpets are con- particularly frequented by outdoor tourists. sumed worldwide (Branch 1975, Pombo and Escofet All the specimens collected were taken directly 1996, Castilla 1999). In southern South America, lim- to the laboratory and 30 were fixed in Bouin’s fluid pets of the genus Nacella are commercially exploited for 48 h and stored in 70% (v/v) aqueous ethanol in Chile and captured manually in Argentina from for histology. Because physical procedures enhance the provinces of Tierra del Fuego (Conti et al. 2012) spawning in other molluscs (Velasco et al. 2007, Aji to Chubut. The species Nacella magellanica was a 2011), no sand depuration was performed and the bio- resource widely used by the native populations of the film over the shell was not removed. For each sam- Patagonian and Fueguian coasts in pre-Hispanic times pling, morphometric measurements were recorded on (Gómez Otero et al. 1998, Orquera 1999, De Aranza- 30 individuals with callipers (precision 0.1 mm) to mendi et al. 2009). At present, the harvesting of gas- establish the height, length and width. To determine tropods in Atlantic Patagonia is restricted to artisanal the total weight, each shell was removed and the shell fisheries (Elías and Pereiro 2003). Therefore, owing to and body weights were recorded on a digital balance its high abundance, the current consumption and the (precision ±0.001 g). Sex was determined on the ba- simplicity of collection during low tides, N. magellani- sis of gonadal frotis under an optical microscope and ca could become a formal artisanal fishery resource on related to gonadal colour: females were green and the Patagonian Atlantic coasts. males yellow (see Results). From the total of sampled N. magellanica has a wide distribution around individuals, 5 specimens were used for nutritional the Magellanic region in southern South America, values and 5 were used for ash determination. The 10 from Puerto Montt in the Pacific Ocean (42°S) to the remaining specimens were used as a back-up, because Buenos Aires province in the Atlantic Ocean (35°S), in the process of shell extraction the tissue was often including the Strait of Magellan, Cape Horn, Tierra broken, making the specimens useless for nutritional del Fuego and the Malvinas Islands (Powell 1973, Pas- composition determination or histological gonadal torino 1995, González-Wevar et al. 2012). The genus analysis. Nacella is a broadcast spawner (it releases its gametes into the water) (Morriconi 1999, González-Wevar et Gonadal cycle al. 2012) and, like many other marine gastropods, its reproduction is correlated with the photoperiod and the Each month, only around 10 individuals were suit- water temperature (Morriconi 1999, Bigatti et al. 2008, able for gonadal determination (Table 1). Gonads were Cumplido et al. 2010). processed following standard histological procedures In recent years, N. magellanica has been extended to study the annual cycle, as described by several as an incipient resource to the internal markets in Argentina, without any form of official control. This study is accordingly aimed at adding to a series of ef- Table 1. – Number of individuals per gametogenic cycle of the 30 forts made to establish regulatory policies for marine analysed per month. gastropod fisheries in northern Patagonia (Bigatti and Analyzable Parasited Sand/Indet Ciocco 2008, Penchaszadeh et al. 2009, Bigatti et al. January 10 4 16 2015, among others). February 10 3 17 The study reported here investigated for the first March 10 1 19 April 10 2 18 time the reproductive cycle and seasonal variation in June 12 0 18 total body mass and biochemical composition of N. July 12 0 18 magellanica in order to determine its nutritional val- August 11 1 18 September 10 0 20 ues. The results obtained for this coastal resource can October 11 2 17 be useful for strengthening the management policies of November 10 2 18 several marine gastropods in the zone.