Synergy between Seasonality and Climatic Anomaly and their Effects on the Growth of Oysters Cultivated in the Amazon Coast

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the synergistic effect between the Amazon seasonality and the El Niño climate anomaly (2015/16 event) on the growth of oysters cultivated on the Amazon coast in comparison with the growth of oysters in a normal year (2013). It should be noted that both experiments determined the absolute growth of oysters Crassostrea gasar by reading microgrowth using an internal calcein marker. the results clearly indicate the synergistic effect of the Amazon seasonality with the El Niño climatic anomaly. thus, in normal years, the best oyster growth performance occurs in the dry season, while in El Niño years it occurs in the wet season. This is the first study carried out in the Amazon region that aims to analyze the effects of El Niño on the production of fishery resources from aquaculture. Such information enables adaptations in the planning of the production cycle of oyster farming, serving as an investment indicator.

Keywords:
Amazon region; aquaculture; mollusk; oyster farming; native oyster; Crassostrea gasar

HIGHLIGHTS

We detected a synergistic effect between the Amazon seasonality and the El Niño climate anomaly;

In normal years, oysters develop grow during the dry season;

In El Niño years, oysters develop grow during the rainy season;

The influence of climatic anomalies on the growth of cultivated oysters can be an investment indicator.