Heterogeneity of Japanese oyster (Crassostrea Gigas) spat collection in a shellfish farmed mediterranean lagoon

Abstract

Japanese oysters spatfields were recently discovered in the French Mediterranean Thau lagoon farmed for shellfish. This discovery led to interesting issues concerning research for a highly seashell exploited ecosystem. The analyses of various environmental parameters characterized favorable sites and periods for spat collection. Spat collection in Thau lagoon presented high temporal and spatial heterogeneities related to hydrodynamic, predation, competition and trophic resource variability. Here, the results highlight various explicative factors of the Japanese oysters recruitment within Thau lagoon and underline the high ecological variability in the studied system under oligotrophication.