Frequent monitoring of temperature: an essential requirement for site selection in bivalve aquaculture in tropical-temperate transition zones

Abstract

Frequent monitoring of temperature (FMT) for over 1 year at two aquaculture sites in the western Baja California peninsula was analysed in terms of hourly, daily and monthly variability, and with this information, temperature‐change indices were calculated. These data were contrasted against a long‐term series from a global database (Extended Reconstruction of Sea Surface Temperature (ERSST)) to evaluate whether these could substitute for FMT. The compatibility of species requirements with the thermal conditions was evaluated by comparing the temperature frequency distributions from the two FMTs, with the optimum and lethal temperature information available on five bivalve species of aquacultural interest. We concluded that there was no correlation between ERSST and FMT because the former underestimates the amplitude of real temperature fluctuations and exhibits a different pattern of variation during the year. Therefore, FMT was needed for a correct selection of an aquaculture site for bivalves. The FMT indicated high temperature variability at both sites studied on different time scales, with the site located at lower latitude (Rancho Bueno) warmer and with a higher variability than Laguna Manuela. Contrasting these results with optimum and lethal temperature values of bivalve species, it was possible to find the ideal site, for temperature, for culturing the species, taking into account the variability associated with large‐scale phenomena.

Comparative growth and mortality of cultured Lion's Paw scallops (Nodipecten subnodosus) from Gulf of California and Pacific populations and their reciprocal transplants

“…The highest densities and largest shell heights and the only commercial fishery of the species are found close to its northern distribution limit, where prevailing climate conditions are warm‐temperate (Morales‐Hernández & Cáceres‐Martínez ; Félix‐Pico, Arellano‐Martínez, Ponce‐Díaz & Massó‐Rojas ; Sicard et al . ). Therefore, overall growth performances of scallops cultured along the Baja California Peninsula tend to decrease with increasing in situ water temperatures (Freites et al .…”

“…Water temperatures at the northern limit of scallop distribution on the Pacific side are much lower and much less variable than at southern bays and lagoons of the Baja California Peninsula (Sicard et al . ). The parents used from the Pacific population originated from Guerrero Negro lagoon in the north and were not cultured in their favourite native habitat even on the Pacific side, but at a more southerly location.…”

“…To determine diurnal temperature fluctuations, daily temperature ranges were calculated. In addition, frequency distributions of the temperature measurements and of the daily temperature ranges were computed as described in Sicard, Maeda‐Martínez, Lluch‐Cota, Lodeiros, Roldan‐Carrillo and Mendoza‐Alfaro (). Chlorophyll a data were compiled from the literature (Taylor ; Koch et al .…”

“…Average initial shell heights (mm) and standard deviations are given for each treatment. frequency distributions of the temperature measurements and of the daily temperature ranges were computed as described in Sicard, Maeda-Mart ınez, Lluch-Cota, Lodeiros, Roldan-Carrillo and Mendoza-Alfaro (2006). Chlorophyll a data were compiled from the literature (Taylor 2003;Koch et al 2005;Purce 2007) and from the daily, 4.62km resolution gridded product from the GlobColour Project (http://www.globcolour.info).…”

Population‐specific genotype x genotype x environment interactions in bacterial disease of early life stages of Pacific oyster larvae

“…In general, Pacific oysters have a wide temperature tolerance as has been shown for adults (Sicard et al., ) and larvae (Rico‐Villa, Pouvreau, & Robert, ). However, empirical studies demonstrated that larvae are dependent on temperatures above 22°C to reach optimal growth and metamorphosis performance while temperatures as low as 17°C consistently inhibit ingestion and growth over the entire larval period, although they did not cause significant mortalities (Rico‐Villa et al., ).…”