Ecophysiologie de la maturation sexuelle et de la ponte de l'huitre creuse Crassostrea gigas: Reponses metaboliques (respiration) et alimentaires (filtration, absorption) en fonction des differents stades de maturation

Abstract

The study of maturation and spawning of the oyster is part of a research program to investigate the summer mortalities of the oysters, Crassostrea gigas in Marennes-Oleron Bay. Four maturity stages were simultaneously obtained by diet and thermal conditioning (immature, low maturation, mature and post-spawning stages). Measurements of clearance, filtration, absorption and respiration rates allowed a calculation of the scope for growth and hence an estimation of the oyster's energetic budget at various maturity stages. Male and female oysters had similar physiological responses. The filtration rate ranged from 2.4 to 2.6 J.h-1 at the early stages of maturation and decreased to 1.8 J.h-1 during the maturity stage. Growth rate resulting from gonad development did not induce filtration rate changes. Mature 2.5 and 1.5-year old oysters showed a negative energy budget reaching -15 and -90 J.h-1 respectively. By contrast, non-ripe oysters had scope for growth in the range 110 to 170 J.h-1. A negative energy budget during the high maturation stage resulted from a reduced absorption efficiency. A new allometric relationship for the respiration model of C. gigas was defined during vitellogenesis with a 0.574 coefficient value. Based on our results, the oyster's physiological weakness during vitellogenesis should be considered as a part of explanation for spring and summer mortalities of cultured oysters in Marennes-Oleron Bay.