A new system for bottom co-culture of the scallop, Patinopecten yessoensis, with the sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus, and the sea urchin, Anthocidaris crassispina, in shallow water in China

• DOI: 10.1007/s10499-014-9755-9
• Publication Date: 2014-02-13T09:25:28Z
• Authors: Libin Zhang; Yan Gao; Tao Zhang; Hongsheng Yang; Qiang Xu; Lina Sun; Zonghe Yu
• Keywords: Seabed; Patinopecten yessoensis; Apostichopus japonicus; Adductor muscles

A new system for bottom co-culture of scallop, Patinopecten yessoensis, sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka), and sea urchin, Anthocidaris crassispina, is reported. To evaluate the system, scallops (average shell height, 3.904 ± 0.511 cm) were placed in nine “Hailong” units at densities of 10, 30, and 50 individuals per cell (ind/m2), and the units were placed in shallow waters with a muddy, sandy, or semi-sandy seabed. After more than 9 months, the scallops cultured on the semi-sandy seabed were larger than those cultured on sandy or muddy seabed (p < 0.05). The index of the adductor muscle was higher for scallops cultured on the sandy seabed than for those cultured on semi-sandy or muddy seabed (p < 0.05). More sea cucumbers were harvested from the units on the sandy seabed than from those on semi-sandy or muddy seabed (p < 0.05). The highest yield of sea urchins was from units on the muddy seabed, followed by those on the semi-sandy seabed and then from those on the sandy seabed (p < 0.05). Seaweed communities developed on the units located on sandy seabeds.