Parameters of the Spondylus limbatus GB Sowerby II, 1847, population in the Central-West Gulf of California, Mexico

ABSTRACT

The main Spondylus limbatus population parameters were estimated based on the analysis of individual growth and reproductive aspects of specimens collected monthly (n = 30) from January to December 2009 in the fishing area of Agua Verde, Gulf of California. The size structure determined from shell measurements was 82–167 mm and the direct reading of shell sections indicated ages of 1–14 years. The data were adjusted to the von Bertalanffy, Gompertz, logistic, Richards and Schnute (Type 1) growth models. The von Bertalanffy model provided the best fit to describe individual growth in this species (SH_∞ = 142.7 mm, k = 0.47, t₀ = −0.20 years). The spawning season was determined through gonadal histology, and the size and age at sexual maturity through a logistic model. Reproductive activity occurred from March to September, with spawning peaks in July and August. The size and age at sexual maturity were 10.8 mm and 2.7 years, respectively. This information provides the necessary knowledge to implement management measures in the area. We recommend independent studies to establish management measures for each fishing area.

KEYWORDS:

• Reproductive cycle
• individual growth
• age and size structure
• multimodel approach
• sexual maturity

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to COFAA-IPN, EDI, SIP 20211610 and 20220719. We thank the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT), Mexico, for their support through the graduate programme Estancia Postdoctoral por México en la modalidad Académica (Application number 60128) and Sistema Nacional de Investigadores (SNI). The authors also thank the Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, PROFAPI2022 “PRO_A7_012” for its support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología [Application number 60128 Estancia Postdoctoral]; Instituto Politécnico Nacional [SIP 20211610,SIP 20220719]; Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa [PROFAPI2022 ‘PRO_A7_012’].