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Measuring the Structure, Composition, and Change of Underwater Environments with Large-area Imaging

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Cockle Population Dynamics in a Complex Ecological Aquatic System.

Simão Correia¹, Marta Lobão Lopes¹, Ana Picado²

¹CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies), Departamento de Biologia, Campus Universitario de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.

|October 29, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

European edible cockle populations in Ria de Aveiro show significant spatial and seasonal variations. Management strategies are crucial for sustainable harvesting due to environmental factors and near-legal catch sizes.

Keywords:

Cardiidae Cerastoderma edule Ria de Aveiro density growth recruitment

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Area of Science:

Marine Ecology
Fisheries Science
Bivalve Population Dynamics

Background:

The European edible cockle (Cerastoderma edule) is ecologically and economically important in Portuguese coastal ecosystems like Ria de Aveiro.
Cockle harvesting is a critical activity in Ria de Aveiro, necessitating sustainable management practices.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze the population dynamics of Cerastoderma edule in Ria de Aveiro.
To identify spatial and seasonal patterns in density, growth, cohort structure, and recruitment.
To provide essential data for the sustainable management of cockle fisheries.

Main Methods:

Field surveys to assess cockle density and distribution across Ria de Aveiro.
Analysis of environmental factors (salinity, temperature, current velocity, sediment) influencing cockle populations.
Evaluation of growth performance and cohort composition.
Comparison of observed shell lengths with legal catch sizes.

Main Results:

Significant spatial and seasonal variations in cockle density were observed, with recruitment peaking in summer/early autumn.
Environmental gradients, including salinity and temperature, strongly influenced the distribution of both recruits and adults.
Growth rates and cohort lifespans were dependent on sediment type and lagoon location.
Maximum observed shell lengths approached the legal minimum catch size, indicating potential overexploitation.

Conclusions:

Environmental factors and harvesting pressures interact, posing risks to the viability of Cerastoderma edule populations in Ria de Aveiro.
Sustainable exploitation requires adaptive management, including revised catch sizes, seasonal harvesting moratoriums, and habitat protection.
Continued research and monitoring are vital for informed decision-making and resource conservation.