Publication
Recruitment and growth of Megabalanus azoricus (Pilsbry, 1916) on artificial substrates: first steps towards commercial culture in the Azores
| dc.contributor.author | Pham, Christopher K. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Girolamo, Mirko De | |
| dc.contributor.author | Isidro, Eduardo | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2011-10-07T10:23:39Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2011-10-07T10:23:39Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2011 | |
| dc.description.abstract | This paper reports the results of preliminary research evaluating the potential of farming Megabalanus azoricus. From March 2006 to September 2006, artificial substrates were immersed bi-monthly in a shallow water bank located in the channel separating the islands of Faial and Pico, Azores. They were monitored monthly for a period of 12 months by scuba-diving. M. azoricus rapidly colonised the immersed substrates, establishing itself as the dominant organism. Even though recruitment was observed year round, there was a peak in recruitment between June and October. The substrate immersed for the longest period (15 months) presented final densities of 1109 ind. m-2, from which 20.2% were of edible size. Growth was monitored for 18 isolated barnacles for 8 months. Growth rate proved to be high (base diameter; 0.08 ± 0.02 mm day-1; mean ± SD), with individuals reaching diameters of 21.35 ± 6.2 mm after 8 months. Considering this growth rate, it was estimated that after a further 9 months, over 80% of the total densities (on the oldest substrate ) would be harvestable, thus suggesting a production cycle of 17 to 24 months. Although much further research is needed, the species presents all characteristics of a potential candidate to initiate the aquaculture industry in the Azores. | por |
| dc.identifier.citation | "ARQUIPÉLAGO. Life and Marine Sciences". ISSN 0873-4704. Nº 28 (2011): 47-56 | por |
| dc.identifier.issn | 0873-4704 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10400.3/1227 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | por |
| dc.publisher | Universidade dos Açores | por |
| dc.relation.ispartofseries | Ciências Biológicas e Marinhas = Life and Marine Sciences;28 | |
| dc.subject | Giant Barnacle | por |
| dc.subject | Growth | por |
| dc.subject | Mariculture | por |
| dc.subject | Recruitment | por |
| dc.subject | Azores Islands | por |
| dc.title | Recruitment and growth of Megabalanus azoricus (Pilsbry, 1916) on artificial substrates: first steps towards commercial culture in the Azores | por |
| dc.type | journal article | |
| dspace.entity.type | Publication | |
| rcaap.rights | openAccess | por |
| rcaap.type | article | por |