• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2013

In Incheon bay, mass mortalities of Manila clam associated with winter storms have been reported. In the present study we have monitored pathologic condition of the clams stranded on the tidal flats by the winter storms occurred in late March to early April in 2007. The field surveyed indicated that mortality of the Manila clam in the study areas ranged 10-15%. Condition index, a ratio of tissue weight to the shell weight, of the stranded clams was significantly lower than the non-stranded normal clams collected from the same locations (p < 0.05), indicating that the stranded clams were comparatively in poor physiological condition. Perkinsus olseni, the protozoan parasite was observed most of clams used in the analysis and the infection prevalence ranged 77-90%. The infection intensity of P. olseni determined using Ray's fluid thioglycollate medium (RFTM) cultivation and the 2M NaOH digestion assay indicated that the clams collected during late March and early April in 2007 involved 67,182-1,124,727 P. olseni cells/g tissue. The infection intensity of clams from Gung-Pyeung was significantly higher than the intensities observed from Dae-Bu and Young-Heung (p < 0.05). No clear correlation was found between the infection intensities of P. olseni in the non-stranded normal clams and the stranded clams. The stranded Manila clams were also infected with trematode parasite with the prevalence ranged 5 (Young-Heung) to 12.5% (Dae-Bu). The trematode-infected clams exhibited castrated follicles in the gonad, a typical sign of trematode infection. It was believed that mass mortality of Manila clam observed in this study was associated with the poor physiological condition as indicated by CI, although impacts of the parasite infection cannot be ruled out.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.208-218
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• 2001

We have investigated the gonad index (GI), gonadal development, reproductive cycle, first sexual maturity, sex ratio, the number of spawned eggs and spawning frequency of the Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum. Samples were collected from the intertidal zone of Komso Bay, Korea from January to December in 1999. Monthly changes in the gonad index (GI) and condition index showed a similar pattern in the reproductive cycle. The spawning period was once a year between early June and early October, there was a spawning peak between July and August when seawater temperature was over $20^{\circ}C$. The reproductive cycle of this species can be categorized into five successive stages; early active (February to March), late active (April to May), ripe (April to August), partially spawned (June to October), and spent/inactive stage (August to March). Percentages of first sexual maturity of female and male clams of l5.1-20.0mm in shell length were $56.3\%$ and $60.0\%$, respectively, and $100\%$ for the clams >25. mm. The sex ratio of individuals >15.1 mm in shell length was about 1:1 $(\chi^2= 0.02,\;p>0.05)$. Number of the eggs released from each clam by the induction increased as the size of clam in terms of shell length increased. Mean number of the eggs from the second induction of the spawning was $75.35-84.30\%$ $(average\;79.81\%)$ of the number of the eggs released in the first spawning. Our data indicated that R. philippinarum in Komso Bay has one major spawning peak with over two minor spawning, and the interval of each spawning was estimated to be approximately 15-17 (average 16.5) days.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.91-95
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• 2010

Density-dependant growth and mortality rate of Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum reared in net cages was investigated in Gomso Bay, Korea where unusually high mortality of clams has been reported. For the experiment, four groups of clam cages were set up with a density of $2,000clams/m^2$ (group A), $1,000clams/m^2$ (group B), $500clams/m^2$ (group C) and $100clams/m^2$ (group D). Mortality and growth of clams in each experimental cage was monitored biweekly from May 2001 to September 2001. Highest mortality in group A was observed in late August, while highest mortality of rest groups was observed in early September. In September, the cumulative mortality in group A was 99%, while it was 93.2% in group B, 91.2% in group C and 88% in group D. Shell growth rate of clams in thecages was found to be density dependent; monthly shell length increase was 0.67 mm in group A, 1.33 mm in group B, 1.63 mm in group C and 1.71 mm in group D. Our study indicated that clam growth and mortality in the Bay is density dependent and the growth and survival rate is negatively correlated with the density.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Fisheries Technology Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.580-582
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• 2001

The Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinaMm (Pelecypoda: Veneridae) is present along the coasts of Korea, China and Japan. In particular, Recently, due to reclamation of tidal areas along the west coast, marine pollution, and reckless overharvesting of this clam, its standing stock has reduced for a decade. Therefore, it is necessary to manage the population of the clam with a proper fishing regime that will maintain an optimal population size in aqua farm. (omitted)

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.723-730
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• 2016

Domestic Manila clam production has been reduced due to coastline changes and environmental degradation, but aquaculture industry is facing difficulties caused by an increase in imports. It is important to recognize the integral habitat environment in order to do sustainable aquaculture. The habitat environment of Manila clams (Ruditapes philippinarum) is closely related to the productivity of aquaculture farms. This study investigated 3 indexes, survival (sediment type, hydrodynamic), growth (Chlorophyll a, DIN, DIP) and environment (water temperature, dissolved oxygen, sediment chemical oxygen demand, ignition loss) as indicators of habitat characteristics for a tidal flat farm in Geunso Bay (Pado and Beopsan) from June 2015 to May 2016. As a result, Pado (maximums.; sand 48.76 %, hydrodynamic 10.59 cm/s, Chlorophyll a 12.70 ug/L, exposure time 3 hours, DO 18.65 mg/L) had a higher sand content, faster current speed, more abundant nutrients and DO, providing more favorable conditions for Manila clams than Beopsan (maximums.; sand 37.40 %, hydrodynamic 6.02 cm/s, Chlorophyll a 6.41 ug/L, exposure time 7 hour, DO 14.81 mg/L). In fact, Pado showed a higher density than Beopsan. This study considered the habitat environments of Pado and Beopsan to provide a basis for optimal management practices and potential suitable sites in Geunso bay.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.171-182
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• 2022

The habitat degradation caused by large-scale reclamation leads to devastating impacts, such as fine sediment and mud shrimp Upogebia major settlement on Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum aquaculture in the eastern Cheonsu Bay tidal flats, Republic of Korea. Despite these impacts, there is a lack of studies on the influence of fine sediments on tidal flats that constitute key mud shrimp habitats. This study provides information on the seawater-sediment environment and the influence of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) fluctuations depending on mud shrimp burrow hole density. Additionally, it discusses countermeasures for Manila clam habitat management. The results show that mean DIN effluxes in areas with a high-density of burrow holes were up to 4 times (0.12 mmol m^-2 d^-1) higher than those in sites of low-density (0.03 mmol m^-2 d^-1) within the Saho and Songhak-ri tidal flats. To manage interference within the competition zone of Songhak-ri tidal flat, it is important to utilize the settlements of spawning season in all three dimensions. Consequently, additional studies in other tidal flats are essential and research in zones where mud shrimps and juvenile clams coexist will help to determine the priorities in the efficient management of clam aquaculture.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Fisheries Technology Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.265-265
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• 2002

• Proceedings of the Korean Aquaculture Society Conference
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• 2002.08a
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• pp.240.1-240
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• 2002

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.213-220
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• 2015

After oil outlow accident of Hebei spirit in December 7, 2007, the motality of manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum in the west coast of South Korea, was significantly increased from 9.2% in April, 2007 to 22.4% in April 2008. Although the mortality was about 10% in the tidal flat of Geunso Bay and Cheonsu Bay, Incheon and Gyeonggi-do, the values was significantly high about 30% in water coast of Taean, Boryeong and Seosan in where the spilled oil was getting into fishery zone. However, the mortality in water coast of Taean, Boryeong and Seosan was decreased from 22.4% in 2008 to 6.0% in 2009. Also, we found that the mortality in contaminated and non-contaminated water zones was both slightly increased from 6.0 in 2009 to 8.6% in 2010, Therefore, these results are indicating that the significant high mortality observed in water coast of Taean, Boryeong and Seosan at April, 2008 was due to the crude oil accident outflow from tanks of Hebei spirit. Although the mortality of manila clam was significantly decreased in middle west coast of South Korea after the accident of Hebei spirit in December, 2007, the annual production of manila clam in South Korea was sustainedly from 27,459 ton in 2007, 36,302 ton in 2008, 40,392 ton in 2009, to 36,248 ton in 2010. In the production of manila clam by regional groups, the amount in sea coast of Chungnam, where was damaged by crude oil, was significantly decreased from 10,598 ton in 2007 to 5,048 ton in 2008, but then was significantly increased to 7,065 ton in 2009, and to 12,921 ton in 2010. However, in sea coast of Jeonnam that was not damaged by crude oil, the amount was significantly increased from 1,252 ton in 2007 to 12,248 ton in 2008, but then was significantly decreased to 9,566 ton in 2009, and to 2,770 ton in 2010. Therefore the results are suggesting that a increasing of the total annual production of manila clam in South Korea in 2008 when was 1 year after the oil accident of Hebei spirit was due to increasing of clam production in a coast of Jeonnam in where was not damaged by crude oil.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Fisheries Technology Conference
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• 2000.05a
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• pp.505-505
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• 2000

Perkinsus sp. has been identified as responsible organism for the decrease in Manil clam production along the west and south coast of Korea. Monthly investigation on infection intensity and pathology of Perkinsus infected Manila clam population was carried out in Komsoe Bay located in the west coast during February and December 1999. About one hundred clams were collected each month for the analysis. Infected clams were incubated in fluid thioglycollate media over a week, stained with iodine solution, digested with 2M NaOH and the number of Perkinsus present in an individual recorded. Histological slides were also prepared from infected clams and their pathologic symptoms were examined using a microscope. Trophozoites of Perkinsus sp. were dominantly distributed on gills and epithelia of digestive glands however a few numbers could be detected at siphons and foot tissues. Heavily infected clams often exhibited white spots on mantle and foot tissues due to the inflammatory reaction of the hemocytes, forming nodules. Trophozoites were also found along the connective tissues of follicles during spawning season indicating that Perkinsus sp. may disturb reproduction of the clam. Total number of Perkinsus sp. in an individual clam varied from none to 9, 550, 000 with a monthly mean of 279, 663 to 2, 198, 558 during the course of study. The number of Perkinsus sp. in the clam was found to lowest durin July and August when unusually low salinity was recorded in this area due to the heavy rain. Highest monthly infection intensity in terms of total number of Perkinsus sp. i clam was observed in February, when water temperature recorded as lowest during the study. Small size of clams with shell length of ten mm or less were not infected with Perkinsus sp. It was concluded that Perkinsus infection in Manila clam is in pa controlled by changes in salinity and clam growth; low salinity environment minimize infection intensity while tile clams get more Perkinsus as they grow.