Effect of starvation and temperature on gonad development of baby clam, Marcia opima (Gmelin)

For studying the influence of feed and temperature on gonad growth and maturity of the baby clam \nMarcia opima, experiments were conducted for 45 days at temperatures of 23°C and 28°C. The progress \nof gonadal recovery was followed by periodic determination of gonadosomatic index, condition index, \ndigestive gland index and oocyte diameter. There was significant difference in the gonadosomatic index \nbetween fed and unfed clams at 23°C and 28°C. No significant difference in the gonadosomatic index \nwas noted in the fed treatments at 23°C and 28°C, but the time of conditioning had significant influence \non the gonadosomatic index. A significant relationship was found between the gonadosomatic index \nand condition index of the clams in all the treatments