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Grooved razor clam (Solen marginatus) in the mid-Atlantic Azores: unravelling ecology, phylogeny, and population biology of a new population

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 October 2024

Alberto Machado ,
Daniel Machado ,
Rita Castilho ,
Luana S. Corona ,
Gisela Dionísio  and
José Nuno Gomes-Pereira Open the ORCID record for José Nuno Gomes-Pereira [Opens in a new window]
Alberto Machado
Affiliation:
GEO – Grupo de Estudos Oceânicos, Portimão, Portugal
Daniel Machado
Affiliation:
GEO – Grupo de Estudos Oceânicos, Portimão, Portugal
Rita Castilho
Affiliation:
Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal Campus de Gambelas, Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR/CIMAR LA), Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal Pattern Institute, Faro, Portugal
Luana S. Corona
Affiliation:
Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal Campus de Gambelas, Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR/CIMAR LA), Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
Gisela Dionísio
Affiliation:
Naturalist – Science and Tourism, MARE-Startup, Horta, Portugal AtlanticNaturalist, Monsenhor Silveira de Medeiro, Horta, Portugal Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências, MARE, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET, Aquatic Research Network, Universidade de Lisboa, Cascais, Portugal
José Nuno Gomes-Pereira*
Affiliation:
Naturalist – Science and Tourism, MARE-Startup, Horta, Portugal AtlanticNaturalist, Monsenhor Silveira de Medeiro, Horta, Portugal Institute of Marine Sciences – OKEANOS, University of the Azores, Horta, Portugal
*
Corresponding author: José Nuno Gomes-Pereira; Email: email@atlanticnaturalist.org
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Abstract

The first insights on habitat and phylogenetic origin of a newly found population of Solen marginatus are provided in the mid-North Atlantic Azores archipelago, in the bay of Praia da Vitória, Terceira Island. Distribution is confined to the northern portion and most sheltered part of the bay down to 14.2 m depth. Densities with an average of 12.69 individuals/m2 were found at 8.4 m depth, using 4 × 20 sqm visual transects. Sizes of shell length between 10 and 12 cm comprised 60% of collected specimens (n = 118), ranging between 8.79 and 15.4 cm and averaging 11.28 cm. Considering shell length, the high densities and dispersion area, a settlement period above 20 years is estimated. Greater genetic affinity was found in the Ria de Aveiro (North of Portugal) and the Asturias populations (North of Spain). The source origin remains undetermined, with intentional or non-intentional anthropogenic introduction, as well as natural dispersion remaining possible, although more unlikely. Due to the commercial value of this species, a new clam fishery is likely to develop in the area, requiring further studies and immediate conservation measures.

Keywords

benthic ecologycommercial fisheryislandmarine resourcerazor clamsize distribution

Information

Type
Marine Record
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 104 , 2024 , e89
Copyright
Copyright © Atlantic Naturalist, 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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