Environmental biology, life history traits and aquaculture of green ormer Haliotis tuberculata

Abstract

Green ormer or European abalone is an ecologically and economically important mollusk that finds food in the marine ecosystem and is also a delicacy for humans. Therefore, numerous studies have been conducted on this species in order to cultivate it as successfully as possible in new habitats. Mollusks are affected by bottom trawling and seafood disturbance while seasonal variations in oceanographic factors also affect their physiology, stress responses, and survival. In this review, an overview of numerous studies on the distribution and influence of various ecological factors on this species is presented, along with a morphological description of green ormer. In addition, the factors that influence maturation, reproduction and growth, as an important part of the breeding process, are presented. Emphasis is also placed on the natural diet as well as the diet in breeding farms. The physiology of this species lists numerous factors that affect its growth, especially antioxidant stress. There are a considerable number of knowledge gaps in the history of ormer aquaculture, which are pointed out together with their solutions, providing the opportunity to expand the cultivation of this species.