Studies on growth and age of bivalves from temperate and tropical estuarine ecosystems

Abstract

Comparison of growth progression and age composition of Abra alba and Nuculana minuta from temperate estuarine ecosystem with Meretrix casta and Paphia malabarica from tropical estuarine environment, revealed that the annual growth rate in tropical species was 10-12 times more than in temperate species. Natural populations of bivalves had more age groups in the temperate than in the tropical environment. No annual or seasonal growth rings were discernible in tropical bivalves