Growth rate and settlement of Limnoperna fortunei in a temperate reservoir

This study investigated the growth rate of Limnoperna fortunei postlarvae on experimental frames over the course of a year, to evaluate the effects of physicochemical environmental factors on their growth in a reservoir, Lake Ohshio, Gunma, Japan. The median shell size of L. fortunei slightly increased in the autumn after recruitment, exhibited little growth in winter and then greatly increased in summer. Water temperature was positively correlated with growth rate of L. fortunei. However, we found no correlation between the growth rate and dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a or turbidity. The settlement pattern of L. fortunei was also investigated during the course of a year. Second-year recruit density was much higher than for first-year recruits.