Is the Queen conch Strombus gigas (Mesogastropoda: Strombidae) a species with Allee effect?

Abstract

The marine park of Xel-Há has a population of Strombus gigas which breeds in the area. We determined the relationship between reproductive activity, conch density and environmental parameters. Samples were collected from February to December 2012, using the transect method, at four sites of Marine Park Xel-Ha, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Sediment samples were analyzed and classified using Folk & Ward’s method. Temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen were also recorded. Density had a small correlation with sediment (Pearson r=0.29 with very coarse and r=0.26 with coarse sand), while mating and spawning had a correlation of r=0.54 and 0.62 with medium sand, respectively. Density was high in the four sites and was not associated with mating and spawning (r=0.08 and 0.03, respectively). For reproduction, S. gigas requires specific substrate conditions (sandy effect) and not just a density of 56 Conch Ha-1 (Allee effect).

Keywords

• Strombus gigas
• efecto Allee
• comportamiento reproductivo
• efecto Sandy