Population abundance and growth parameters of an exotic bivalve species, Anadara kagoshimensis, in the Southwestern Black Sea

: Blood cockle ( Anadara kagoshimensis ) is an Indo-Pacific species that later entered the Black Sea. The abundance of A. kagoshimensis , which is not subjected to commercial fishing, is important in terms of food competition with other bivalvia species. Baby clam ( Chamelea gallina ) together with the A. kagoshimensis are dominant bivalve species found in the sandy and muddy areas off the coastal waters of the Black Sea. In this study, specimens of A. kagoshimensis have been recognized by morphological analysis and also confirmed by molecular characterization. Furthermore, the abundance and growth parameters of A. kagoshimensis were investigated in the Southwestern Black Sea. Blood cockles were sampled between February 2011 and December 2012, seasonally. According to the Von Bertalanffy Growth Parameters (VBGP) the results were L ∞ = 81.96 mm, K = 0.32 year –1 , t 0 = –0.22 year, and nonseasonal L ∞ = 84.32 mm, K = 0.31 year –1 , t 0 = –0.21, WP = 0.65, t s = 0.15. The growth pattern showed the slope [b] = 2.96–3.01 in 2011 and 2012. The stock size was estimated according to two different years in 5 different subareas (Cide, İnebolu, Türkeli, Ayancık, and Sarıkum) and by 4 different strata (0–5 m, 5–10 m, 10–15 m, and 15–20 m). Considering subareas, the A. kagoshimensis population in all subareas increased significantly in a single year. Compared to other regions, İnebolu was the main highly distributed area of the A. kagoshimensis , and also the estimated stock size was the highest in the region. Due to food competition with other commercial species (mainly Chamelea gallina ) A. kagoshimensis is an ecology important species for the Southern Black Sea habitats. It is aimed to make contributions to Good Environmental Status (GES) and fisheries management in the region.