Aspects de la dynamique spatio-temporelle du pré-recrutement de Pecten maximus L., en Baie de Saint-Brieuc

Population dynamics in Pecten maximus L. (pre-recruits) from the Bay of Saint-Brieuc was studied from spat collection and bottom-sampling of benthic juvenile scallops and the remaining macrozoobenthos. Age 0 juveniles appeared to exhibit a negative binomial distribution (i.e., they were aggregated) in 1987. Polynomial regressions provided a good fit to the shell data for postlarval and juvenile growths (1985 year class). Density-dependent predator-prey relationships, between P. maximus and potential predators, are inferred from the distributions of two scallop predators. Sediment type, hydrodynamism, bottom-water temperature, food availability, and biotic interactions (competition and predation) were the main factors regulating the abundance of pre-recruitment.