Growth and development of Pacific razor clams, Siliqua patula (Dixon) on Swikshak Beach
Poulin VA and Gwartney LA. 1972. Growth and development of Pacific razor clams, Siliqua patula (Dixon) on Swikshak Beach. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Commercial Fish. Kodiak, AK
The four-mile-long Swikshak Beach was sampled for razor clams at low tides four times between May and July 1972. Determinations of growth rates, age composition, and length-weight relationships were made. A densities estimate of 4,396 clams was made for the 88,450 sq ft test plot using a mark-recapture technique. Growth rates appeared to be similar along most of the beach except for an area near the mouth of Swikshak River where growth was slower. The slower growth seen at Swikshak River might be due to reduced salinity there. Age classes were dominated by age groups 6+ and 7+ yrs; clams ranged up to 13 years of age. The rate of body weight to whole weight was constant over all size classes and was 69%.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Poulin, Vincent; Gwartney, Louis
- Date of Issue
- 1972
- Publisher
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Commercial Fish
- Units
- KATM
- Keywords
- Harvest, Marine Invertebrates, Monitoring, Population Dynamics, razor clams, Shelikof Strait, Siliqua patula, Swikshak Beach