An annual cycle of recruitment,growth and production in a Malaysian population of the trochacean gastropod Umbonium vestiarium (L.) |
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| Authors: | AJ Berry Zamri bin Othman |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Biological Science, Stirling University, Stirling, U.K.;2. School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia |
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| Abstract: | From July 1981 to July 1982 Umbonium vestiarium (L.) on a north Penang sand shore numbered 573–11 077 m?2 (mean 4126 or 53·1 g dry tissue) near MLWN and 2164–12 414 m?2 (mean 6500 or 59·8 g dry tissue) further downshore. Heavy recruitment of young became evident in June and July 1982 and a closely corresponding cohort of young was present in July 1981. Progression of this cohort indicated that young settling in May–June grew to full size (11–13 mm diameter) by January–March the following year and that virtually all died during their second year, presumably having spawned in March–May. Recruitment of young was chiefly on the lower shore but adults came to be more abundant and predominant on the upper shore. There is some evidence of migration upshore during growth.Production is estimated at 105·4 g dry tissue m?2 y?1 (2118 kj) at the lower shore level and this is almost double the 58·8 g m?2 y?1 (1176·6 kj) at the higher level. These values represent almost the entire secondary production across much of the sand flats.Possible causes of such a marked annual cycle in the very weakly seasonal tropics of the Malacca Strait are considered and it is suggested that monsoonal changes in wind, wave action and salinity might be involved. |
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| Keywords: | Gastropoda production annual cycles recruitment Malaysia coast |
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