The banded murex Hexaplex trunculus was sampled at Menzel Jemil and Bizerta Channel (Bizerta Lagoon, northern Tunisia) to study imposex, growth, and reproduction. Butyltin concentrations were analyzed in females from the 2 sampling sites using the gas chromatographic flame photometric detection technique. Results showed that the Bizerta Channel population was severely affected by imposex, which was confirmed by the high level of butyltins recorded in females from this site. Growth in shell width and shell weight was higher in Bizerta Channel, whereas growth in shell aperture and flesh weight was favored in Menzel Jemil. The assessment of reproductive activity, made by calculating fecundity and using 2 condition indices, showed that the Menzel Jemil population was reproductively more active.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 December 2009
Relative Growth and Reproduction in Tunisian Populations of Hexaplex trunculus with Contrasting Imposex Levels
Youssef Lahbib,
Sami Abidli,
Najoua Trigui El Menif
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
Journal of Shellfish Research
Vol. 28 • No. 4
December 2009
Vol. 28 • No. 4
December 2009
banded murex
Gastropoda
growth
Hexaplex trunculus
imposex
reproduction
tributyltin