Abstract

This study was aimed to describe the population dynamics and secondary production of Tapes philppinarum on Chohwa and Toksan tidal flats in Kwangyang Bay, from June 1994 to July 1995. The size distributions in shell length showed bimodal patterns from June 1994 to April 1995. Thereafter the distribution changed to the passage of time, indicating an increase in shell length. The mean densities decreased gradually with month. Chohwa A sustained highestdensity, followed by Chohwa B, Toksan C, and Toksan D. The recruitment of new year class occurred first on the upper tidal flat, and then moved to the lower tidal flat. The mean biomass in flesh dry weight of each year class increased in spring just before the spawning period, and thereafter decreased progressively. Annual mean biomass wasrecorded as 170.7 g m$\^$-2/ at Chohwa A, 220.7 g m$\^$-2/ at Chohwa B, 21.8 g m$\^$-2/ at Toksan C, and 45.2 g m$\^$-2/ at toksan D. Annual productions of Ruditapes philippinarum were estimated as 259.72 g m$\^$-2/ yr$\_$-1/ at Chohwa A, 359.79 g m$\^$-2/ yr$\_$-1/ at Chohwa B, 45.02 g m$\^$-2/ yr$\_$-1/ at Toksan c, 68.88 g m$\^$-2/ yr$\_$-1/ at Toksan D. Annual productions were much higher on Chohwa tidal flat than those on Toksan tidal flat. While P:B ratio were higher on Toksan tidal flat as 1.70 than those on Chohwa tidal flat as 1.58. In conclusion, the Chohwa tidal flat showed higher biomass and producion of Ruditapes philippinarum, whereas the Toksan tidal flat showed higher P:B ratio. The total amount of potential food might influence on the density, biomass nad produciton, whereas the amount of food and space per individual might influence on the growth rate and P:B ratio.