Structure and growth of a high-level population ofCerastoderma edule(Lamellibranchiata)

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Abstract
The allometric relationships between shell length and shell breadth, shell height, shell weight, wet tissue weight and dry tissue weight are described for a population ofCerastoderma eduleliving at a high tidal level in the Dovey Estuary, West Wales. Seasonal fluctuations in standard animal values for shell weight and dry weight are interpreted in terms of the cycles of reproduction and food availability; the dangers associated with the use of wet weight in growth studies are demonstrated. The population structure is described using a combination of length-frequency and growth ring analyses and comprised nine year-classes with overlapping size ranges. The growth of the population was very slow and the relative growth rate was almost constant; associated with this slow, atypical growth pattern was considerable longevity and a small maximum size. The reasons for these characteristics are discussed.

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