Éditeur(s) : Natl Shellfisheries Assoc
Résumé : The pearl industry in French Polynesia is based on exploitation of natural stocks of the black-lip pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera); it generates an annual turnover of 90 million euros. Improvements in pearl quality need genetic studies to improve the populations. This pearl oyster is a protandric species, where the sex-ratio normally is biased towards males. There is an increasing interest in gender control to find the mechanisms to augment female proportions for management purposes. This review summarizes information on exogenous and endogenous factors regulating gender in this and other bivalves and concludes that P. margaritifera is a protandric hermaphrodite, developing as a male during the first two years and without evidence of an effect from abiotic and biotic factors on gender during this phase. Later, pearl oysters progressively change to females, reaching a sex ratio close to 1:1 in specimens >8 years; at this stage, gender is apparently influenced by environmental parameters, but particularly by stress. Future research should seek to accurately determine the effect of temperature and food on sex ratios. Studies should be performed to characterize genes responsible for expression of gender. The use of hormones is a path that might be explored to influence the gender of pearl oysters.
Journal Of Shellfish Research (0730-8000) (Natl Shellfisheries Assoc), 2011-08 , Vol. 30 , N. 2 , P. 231-240

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00040/15100/12543.pdf
DOI:10.2983/035.030.0206
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00040/15100/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
The pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera has the specific ability to produce pearls with the widest range of coloursamong all pearl oyster species. This pearl colour diversity originates from the mantle biomineralising tissue(graft) of the donor oyster, which is originally responsible for the variety of colours of the inner shell surface.This study aimed to: 1) assess the geographic distribution and establish a first stocklist of the colourful oysterphenotypes used as donors in French Polynesia, and 2) investigate the phenotypic relation between inner shellcolouration and the corresponding colour of harvested pearls. With the support of a pearl farmers' network,we investigated the different donor phenotype frequencies among five collection sites (Ahe, Apataki, Takaroa,TakumeandMangareva). This donor evaluation was made during grafting of pearl oysters (N=49,938) obtainedfrom collector stations. Results showed that pearl production is mainly based on six common colourful donorphenotypes classified as monochromatic and polychromatic profiles, which shown different frequenciesamong the collection sites. Experimental grafts (N=4640)were then realised and subsequent culture conductedat a single site in order to avoid pearl colour variation due to environmental influences. Traceability between donors(N=232) and pearls (N=2776), revealed that: 1) yellow (gold) and aubergine (reddish) pearls could bemostly obtained by using the monochromatic yellowand red donor phenotypes, respectively, and 2) one third toone quarter of grey pearlswas inevitably harvested, whatever the polychromatic phenotype chosen as the donor,which leaves at least half the harvest composed of the attractive green and peacock colours. This preliminarystocklist of colour range together with analysis of the colour phenotype transmission between inner shell andpearl provide the basis for producing multiple pearl oyster “colour lines” through hatchery propagation andwould be helpful for future selective breeding programs.Statement of relevance: Donor shell colour selection predict colours of pearls
ISSN: 0044-8486

hal-01489153
https://hal-univ-perp.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01489153
DOI : 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2016.10.017

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Biofouling increases the operational and economic costs associated with pearl production. As currentprocedures for reducing oyster biofouling can be detrimental to survival and growth and may pollute thesurrounding environment developing alternative, biologically-mediated, methods could potentially in-crease both production and ecological sustainability. With this in mind, the present study investigatednatural cleaning of black-lipped pearl oysters, Pinctada margaritifera, by butterflyfishes (Chaetodon). Thefeeding behaviour of six butterflyfish species was examined at Rangiroa Atoll, French Polynesia: Chae-todon auriga, Chaetodon citrinellus, Chaetodon ephippium, Chaetodon lunulatus, Chaetodon trifascialis andChaetodon ulietensis. All species cleaned the surface of pearl oysters by removing epibionts (from 16% to40% of total biomass), although dietary variation may explain different cleaning efficiencies. Generalistomnivores (C. auriga, C. citrinellus, C. ephippium and C. ulietensis) were the most efficient cleaners (%cleaning range: 26e40% of total biomass). Within this group, C. ephippium removed the most biomass(average of 41%) targeting algae and anemones. However, C. auriga targeted the most diverse range ofepibionts, removing significant amounts of algae, sponges, tunicates, and anemones. These resultssuggest that foraging by butterflyfishes can substantially reduce biofouling on economically-importanttropical bivalves.
ISSN: 0272-7714

hal-01434152
https://hal-univ-perp.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01434152
DOI : 10.1016/j.ecss.2016.04.001

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
The pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera has the specific ability to produce pearls with the widest range of coloursamong all pearl oyster species. This pearl colour diversity originates from the mantle biomineralising tissue(graft) of the donor oyster, which is originally responsible for the variety of colours of the inner shell surface.This study aimed to: 1) assess the geographic distribution and establish a first stocklist of the colourful oysterphenotypes used as donors in French Polynesia, and 2) investigate the phenotypic relation between inner shellcolouration and the corresponding colour of harvested pearls. With the support of a pearl farmers' network,we investigated the different donor phenotype frequencies among five collection sites (Ahe, Apataki, Takaroa,TakumeandMangareva).Thisdonorevaluationwasmadeduringgraftingofpearloysters(N=49,938)obtainedfrom collector stations. Results showed that pearl production is mainly based on six common colourful donorphenotypes classified as monochromatic and polychromatic profiles, which shown different frequenciesamongthecollectionsites.Experimentalgrafts(N=4640)werethenrealisedandsubsequentcultureconductedat a single site in order to avoidpearl colour variation due to environmental influences. Traceability between do-nors (N = 232) and pearls (N = 2776), revealed that: 1) yellow (gold) and aubergine (reddish) pearls could bemostlyobtainedbyusingthemonochromaticyellowandreddonor phenotypes,respectively,and2)onethirdtoonequarterofgreypearlswasinevitablyharvested,whateverthepolychromaticphenotypechosenasthedonor,which leaves at least half the harvest composed of the attractive green and peacock colours. This preliminarystocklist of colour range together with analysis of the colour phenotype transmission between inner shell andpearl provide the basis for producing multiple pearl oyster “colour lines” through hatchery propagation andwould be helpful for future selective breeding programs.Statement of relevance: Donor shell colour selection predict colours of pearls
ISSN: 0044-8486

hal-01489247
https://hal-univ-perp.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01489247
DOI : 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2016.10.017