Condition index, meat yield and reproductive cycle of smooth donax, Donax variegatus (Donacidae, Gmelin 1791) in the Eastern Mediterranean
Makaleler > Tam Makale · 2025
Yazarlar: Ali KIRTIK
MEMBA Su Bilimleri Dergisi, Hakemli Üniversite Dergisi, Uluslararası, Asos, 2025, cilt 11, ss 212-223
Özet
Donax variegatus (Gmelin, 1791) is a small tiny marine bivalve mollusc which is naturally spreaded out in the sandy shores of the Aegean Sea. Although it has recently being used in biomarker studies, there is lack of knowledge on the reproductive cycle of this species. The goal of this study was to evaluate meat yield, condition index, gonad index, gametogenic cycle of Donax variegatus. Donax variegatus specimens were collected monthly between March 2016 and February 2017from the sandy shore of İzmir coast which is located in the Aegean Sea in Eastern Mediterranean. Flesh and gonad tissues were dissected to evaluate condition index, meat yield and histological gonad analysis. Meat yield peaked in April (22.10%) and remained high throughout winter. The condition index rate was the highest in December (20.40%) and April (22.74%) and lowest in October (4.30%). It was observed that gametogenetic activity is synchronized throughout the year for both female and male individuals and spawning has peaked while the water temperature was ranging between 24,1 °C (May) and 28,3 °C (September). It was determined that abiotic factors such as water temperature and nutrient amount, affects gametogenetic activity and morphological indexes (p