Successes and failures in reintroducing giant clams in the Indo-Pacific region

摘要: Background Giant clams (Tridacnidae) are the largest marine bivalves found in coastal areas of Indo-Pacific region. Eight species giant clam varying size and habitat preference have been described (Tridacna gigas, T. derasa, squamosa, maxima, crocea, tevora, Hippopus hippopus H. porcellanus). In addition to colourful smaller boring clams, such as maxima crocea that within limestone substrates, larger free-living derasa gigas usually recorded near reefs or over sand. Similarly, spp. often on soft substrata, e.g. seagrass beds. These unusual they host symbiotic zooxanthellae their mantle tissue benefit from products photosyn thesis, which provides part nutrition. a highly prized food source, both harvesting by subsistence fishers exports meat responsible for stock depletion across range. The also harvested shells live export aquarium trade. Although fishing foreign ves sels (for adductor muscle) caused much species, now mostly under pressure semicommercial (artisanal) fishers. depleted coral because slow growing, non cryptic generally easily accessible Habitat degradation is declines abundance, especially close urban centres. Due these pressures, recovery overfishing, listed Annex II CITES (1983), considered vulnerable IUCN red list threatened (1996).