Variation in Size and Growth of the Great Scallop Pecten maximus along a Latitudinal Gradient

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0037717
• Publication Date: 2012-05-23T21:02:13Z
• Authors: Laurent Chauvaud; Yann Patry; Aurélie Jolivet; Emmanuelle Cam; Clement Le Goff; Øivind Strand; Grégory Charrier; Julien Thébault; Pascal Lazure; Karl Gotthard; Jacques Clavier
• Keywords: Ectotherm; Annual cycle; Allometry; Annual growth %; Growing season

Understanding the relationship between growth and temperature will aid in evaluation of thermal stress threats to ectotherms context anticipated climate changes. Most Pecten maximus scallops living at high latitudes northern hemisphere have a larger maximum body size than individuals further south, common pattern among many ectotherms. We investigated differences daily shell scallop populations along Northeast Atlantic coast from Spain Norway. This study design allowed us address precisely whether asymptotic observed latitudinal gradient, mainly defined by results annual or rates, difference length growing season. found that low rates are not due values, but smaller number days available each year achieve compared south. documented decrease with age regardless latitude. However, despite initially lower performances terms season rate, as function latitude resulted persistent north sharp declines Our measurements throughout life long-lived ectothermic species provide new insight into spatio-temporal variations dynamics cannot be accounted for classical models only rate.