Growth and morphometry in abalone (Haliotis rubra Leach) from Victoria

Abstract

Several Victorian populations of the abalone Haliotis rubra were studied. A comparison was made of relationships of the dependent variables, shell width, shell height, foot weight and total weight with shell length of abalone collected from several sites at different seasons. Male and female H. rubra were morphometrically similar. In contrast, the morphometrics for abalone collected from the same site at different times were significantly different, as were the morphometrics of abalone collected from different sites at the same time. Weight yields (foot weight relative to total weight) from Portsea and Apollo Bay were highest in winter and lowest in summer. This correlated with the known reproductive cycle in H. rubra, suggesting a relationship of gonad fullness and somatic tissue weight. Morphometric heterogeneity was attributed to differences in growth rates between sites. Growth rates were estimated at three sites and significant between-site variation was shown.

At Mallacoota, H. rubra tagged with a threaded wire tag yielded lower estimates of growth rate than those to which tags were affixed with glue. Differences in growth rate, exclusive of tagging method, were attributed to difference of exposure between the study sites.