Aldana Aranda, D.

Montero Muñoz, J.L.

Montserrat Bravo Castro, H.

Aquatic Commons

 Proceedings of the 62nd Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute     November 2  - 6, 2009   Cumana, Venezuela 
Abundance and Distribution of Queen Conch (Strombus gigas)  
Veligers of Quintana Roo, Peninsula of Yucatan Mexico 
 
 HERLINDA MONTSERRAT BRAVO CASTRO , JORGE LUIS MONTERO MUÑOZ,  
and DALILA ALDANA ARANDA   
CINVESTAV-IPN  Unidad Mérida 
Laboratorio de Biología  y cultivo de Moluscos 
Km 6 Antigua Carretera a Progreso 
CP 97310  Cordemex  Mérida, Yucatán, México 
 
ABSTRACT      
In order to study the distribution and abundance of Strombus gigas (Linné 1758) larvae were collected every month from 
January to December 2005 in twelve sites of Quintana Roo.  Plankton tows were made with a conical net of 500 µm mesh-size. 
During the sample period, 417 veliger were identify.  Larvae were more abundant during August, with 179 larvae (42.9%) and they 
were lest abundant in April, with 16 larvae (3.83 %).  Small larvae (200 to 320 µm) were more abundant in August. Analysis of  
Correspondence GLM was different significantly between months (p = 0.005388).  High abundance of small sizes of larvae suggests 
that Quintana Roo North area could be a possible site of production of Strombus gigas larvae.  It could be related to presence of a 
adult stock at Puerto Morelos, in the Quintana Roo North area in Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. 
 
KEY WORDS:  Distribution, abundance, larvae, Strombus gigas, Mexico  
 
Abundancia y Distribuciòn de Larvas del Caracol Rosa (Strombus gigas)  
en la Peninsula de Yucatán, Quintana Roo, México 
 
En la zona norte de la Península de Yucatán, Estado de Quintana Roo, México se realizaron muestreos mensuales de enero a 
diciembre del 2005 para determinar la abundancia y la distribución de larvas del caracol rosa Strombus gigas (Lineé 1758).  Las 
muestras de plancton se colectaron por medio de arrastres con una red Neuston 60 x 80 con luz de malla de 500 ųm y con una 
duración de 15 minutos en superficie.  Se identificaron un total de 2100 larvas de gasterópodos y 417 larvas de Strombus gigas.  La 
mayor abundancia se presentó en el mes de agosto con 179 larvas (42.9 %) y la menor en abril con 16 larvas (3.83 %). Las larvas de 
mayor talla (≥500 ųm) se  encontraron en septiembre y diciembre y las de menor talla se observaron en los meses de julio y agosto 
(200-320 ųm).  Con un Análisis de Correspondencia (p = 0.05388) se encontró diferencia significativa entre el numero de larvas 
entre meses, siendo agosto diferente.  Estos resultados muestran que el Norte de Quintana Roo en la Península de Yucatán, México 
presenta una población de larvas todo el año, con un pico en verano, lo que indica que esta zona es una área de producción in situ de 
S. gigas, posiblemente perteneciente a un stock de adultos presentes en Puerto Morelos. Sin embargo no existe monitoreos sobre la 
abundancia de la población adulta el la zona Norte de la Península de Yucatán desde los años 90. 
 
PALABRAS CLAVES:  Distribución, abundancia, larvas, Strombus gigas., México  
 
L’abondance et la Distribution de Larves de Lambis (Strombus gigas)  
de Quintana Roo, Péninsule de Yucatan, Mexique 
 
Pour étudier la distribution et l'abondance de Strombus gigas (Lineé 1758) des larves ont été ramassées chaque mois de janvier 
2005 à décembre 2005 dans Quintana Roo.  Les remorquages de plancton ont été faits à l'aide d'un filet conique avec une dimension 
de maille de 500 µm. Pendant la période de promotion, 417 larves (veliger) ont été identifiées.  Les larves étaient plus abondantes en 
août, avec 179 larves (42.9 %) et étaient moins abondantes en avril, avec 16 larves (3.83 %).  Les petites larves (200 à 320 µm) 
étaient plus abondantes en août.  L'analyse de correspondance GLM était différente de façon significative entre les mois (p = 
0.005388).  La profusion de larves de petites tailles suggère que la région du nord de Quintana Roo  pourrait être un site possible de 
production de larves Strombus gigas.  Cela pourrait être relié à la présence d'un stock adulte à Puerto Morelos, dans la région du 
nord de Quintana Roo North dans la Péninsule Yucatan du Mexique. 
 
MOTS CLÉS:  Distribution, profusion, larve, Strombus gigas, Mexique 
INTRODUCTION 
The queen conch, Strombus gigas (Linné 1758), is a 
gastropod of commercial importance in the Caribbean, with 
a distribution range from Venezuela to Florida and the 
Bahamas, including the lesser and mayor Antilles.  Queen 
conch stocks have declined throughout the region over the 
past 10, and various regulations have been implemented in 
most Caribbean countries (CITES 2003).  The biology and 
ecology of queen conch is relatively well studied, but larval 
distribution and abundance studies have been surveyed 
only recently (Stoner et al. 1996, Davis et al. 1993, Posada 
and Appeldoorn 1994, Stoner and Davis 1997, de Jesus 
Navarrete and Aldana-Aranda 2000, de Jesus Navarrete 
2002). 
This research was designed to determine the abun-
  Montserrat Bravo Castro, H.  et al.   GCFI:62   (2010)        
 
dance of S. gigas veligers and present temporal spatial 
variations in Quintana Roo North, in the Caribbean 
Mexico. 
 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 
 
Study area 
In Quintana Roo´ North coast (21° 35´- 17° 49´° N, 
86° 42´- 89° 25´°W) were collected from Laguna 
Bojórquez to Puerto Morelos every month from January  to 
December 2005 (Figure 1). 
The dry season extends from March to June, while the 
rainy season is from July to October, and the cold season, 
characterized by strong northerly winds (“nortes”), is from 
water-formalin. 
Gastropod larvae were identify using dissecting 
microscope (X 20).  Positive identifications for S. gigas 
larvae were made following the descriptions of Davis et al. 
(1993).  Veligers were counted and shells were measured 
for total length with a calibrated ocular micrometer. Larvae 
divided for groups: 200 – 320-ųm SL (group 1), 320 – 550-
ųm SL (group 2), and > 550- ųm SL (group 3). 
Larval abundance was compared using Analysis of 
Correspondence GLM, on Log function Poisson trans-
formed data larvae.  However, there were significantly 
between months (p = 0.005388). 
 
RESULTS 
 
Physical Measurements  
Maximum mean Temperatures were recorded during 
August, September and December, 31°C and 31.5°C, 
respectively whereas lowest temperature occurred in April 
with 27°C . 
 
Distribution of Larvae  
A total of 417 veligers of S. gigas were identify from 
January 2005 to December 2005.  Most were collected at 
three site with 71 larvae (17%), followed by twelve site 
with 66 larvae (15.8%) and 51 larvae at five site with 
12.2%.  
The highest number of conch larvae was collected in 
August and September (57.07%) significant increments in 
the abundance of veligers between months (Figure 2). 
            N 
Figure 1.  Map of Quintana Roo North, Mexico. 
SAMPLING METHODS 
Samples were collected from January to December 
2005, in twelve sites: site 1(20°06´20”  86°47´07”) cuenca 
sur Nichupté, site 2 (21°09´18”  86°46´30”) cuenca norte 
Nichupté, site 3 (21°08´50”  86°47´05”) boca Norte, site 4 
(21°07´12”  86°44´89”) hotel, site 5 (21°07´55”  86°
46´20”) hotel Sheratan, site 6 (21°01´48”  86°47´21”) boca 
sur, site 7 (20°58´48”  86°49´09”) Hotel Moon Palace, site 
8 (20°55´34”  86°50´13”) Punta Tanchacté, site 9 (20°
53´28”  86°51´13”) Punta Caracol, site 10 (20°51´31”  86°
52´05”) Cerca del ojo de agua, site 11 (20°50´02”  86°
53´08”) antes de los cubos, site 12 (21°07´26”  86°45´45”) 
laguna Bojorquez (Figure 1). 
Replicate surface plankton tows were made at each site 
using a conical net, 60 x 80 with a 500 ųm mesh size. 
Plankton was fixed with a mixture of neutralized 4% sea 
Figure 2.  Results of NMDS2 for veligers distributions of S. 
gigas between months. 
 Page 448   62nd Gulf and Carribean Institute 
 
Larval Distribution by Size  
Group 1 larvae (200 - 320 ųm) were most abundant 
(51.7%, 216 larvae) than group 2 and 3.  These sizes were 
distributed over all sample sites, but with greatest abun-
dance at three site and twelve site.  The size-frequency 
distribution varied from 200 - 620 ųm SL. Larvae < 320 
ųm SL represented 51% (Figure 3). 
 
DISCUSSION 
Stoner et al. (1992) reported high S. gigas larvae 
abundance in the Bahamas during the warmer season (June 
to September), during the period of reproductive activity at 
Los Roques National Park, Venezuela.  Aldana - Aranda 
and Perez Perez 2007 observed in Alacranes reef mature 
organism from June, July and August. Aldana – Aranda et 
al. (2003a) reported high S. gigas larvae in Chinchorro 
bank from May to September and spawner conchs from 
June to September.  In this study of S. gigas larvae was 
observed the high abundance in August. Coinciding with 
Stoner et al. (1992) and Aldana Aranda (2007).  The 
presence of a greater quantity of larvae size < 320 ųm was 
attributed to this area. 
In Chinchorro Bank, de Jesús-Navarrete and Aldana- 
Aranda (2000) found a high percentage (89%) of larvae of 
early stages I and II (244-780 µm) indicating that Chin-
chorro Bank is important source of S. gigas veligers.  In a 
minor number, de Jesús Navarrete and Aldana - Aranda 
(2007) found 86% of larvae stage I. 
The results obtained in this study suggest that Quin-
tana Roo North is a local source of S. gigas veligers and a 
basin site for this species, which could be receiving a few 
larvae from other sites of the Mexican Caribbean 
(Cozumel). 
 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
El Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CONACYT) grant 
24210-50094 variaciòn espacio-temporal del patrón reproductivo del 
caracol  Strombus gigas en diferentes habitats y su modelo biofiso de 
conectividad para el caribe. 
 
LITERATURE CITED 
Aldana-Aranda, D and M. Pérez-Pérez. 2007. Abundance and distribution 
of queen conch (Strombus gigas, Linné 1758) Veligers of Alacranes 
reef, Yucatan, México. 
    CITES, Secretariat. 2003. Review of Significant Trade in Strombus 
gigas, AC19 Doc.8. 71pp. In: Review of Significant trade in 
specimens of Appendix-II species (Resolution Conf.12.8 and 
Decision 12.75), Progress on the implementation of the review of 
Significant Trade 8Phases IV and V). Nineteenth meeting of animals 
Committee Geneva (Switzerland), 18-21 August, 2003. 
Davis, M., C. Bolton, and A. W. Stoner. 1993. A comparison of larval 
development, growth, and shell morphology in three Caribbean 
Strombus species. Veliger 36:236-244. 
De Jesús-Navarrete, A. and D. Aldana-Aranda. 2000. Distribution and 
abundant of Strombus gigas veligers at six fishing sites on Banco 
Chinchorro, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Journal of Shellfish Research 
19:891-895. 
De Jesús-Navarrete, A. 2002. Distribution and abundance of Strombus 
costatus (Gmelin, 1791) larvae and adults at the biosphere reserve: 
Banco Chinchorro, Quintanan Roo, México. Journal of Shellfish 
Research  21:227-231. 
Posada, J. and R.S. Appeldoorn. 1994. Preliminary observations on the 
distribution of Strombus larvae in the eastern Caribbean. Pages 191-
199 in: R.S. Appeldoorn and Q. Rodriguez (Eds.) Queen Conch 
Biology, Fisheries and Mariculture. Fundación Científica Los 
Roques, Caracas, Venezuela.   
Stoner, A.W., V.J.  Sandt, and I.F. Boidron - Metairon. 1992. Seasonality 
in reproductive activity and larval abundance of queen conch 
Strombus gigas. Fisheries Bulletin 90:161-170. 
Stoner, A.W., P.A. Pitts, and R.A. Amstrong. 1996. Interaction of 
physical and biological large scale distribution of juvenile queen 
conch in seagrass meadows. Bulletin of Marine Science 58:217-233. 
Stoner, A.W. 1997. The status of Queen Conch, Strombus gigas, Research 
in the Caribbean. Marine Fisheries Review 59:14-22. 
Stoner, A.W. and M. Davis. 1997. Abundance and distribution of Queen 
Conch veligers (Strombus gigas Linné) in the Central Bahamas: I. 
Horizontal patterns in relation to reproductive and nursery grounds. 
Journal of Shellfish Research 16:7-18. 
ABR MAY JUN JUL AGO SEP DIC
Meses
179.00
294.50
410.00
525.50
641.00
T
a
ll
a
s
 (
m
ic
ra
s
)
Figure 3.  The size distribution varied from 200 - 620 ųm SL identify in Quintana 
Roo, North, Mexico. 


Abundance and distribution of Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) Veligers of Quintana Roo, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

http://aquaticcommons.org/15487/1/gcfi_62-68.pdf

Abundance and distribution of Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) Veligers of Quintana Roo, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Aquatic Commons