The Pearl Oyster

Everything for the Oyster Biologist and Cultured Pearl Producer

Paul Southgate (Edited by), John Lucas (Edited by)

9780444529763, Elsevier Science

Hardback, published 2 September 2008

544 pages
23.4 x 19 x 3.1 cm, 1.32 kg

Contrary to a generally held view that pearls are found by chance in oysters, almost all are now produced from farms. This book is a comprehensive treatment of all aspects of the biology of pearl oysters, their anatomy, reproduction, genetics, diseases, etc. It considers how they are farmed from spawning and culturing larvae in hatcheries to adults in the ocean; how various environmental factors, including pollution affect them; and how modern techniques are successfully producing large numbers of cultured pearls. This is the ultimate reference source on pearl oysters and the culture of pearls, written and edited by a number of scientists who are world experts in their fields.

Introduction
Taxonomy and phylogeny, Soft tissue anatomy
shell, structure and biomineralisation
Feeding and metabolism, Reproduction development and growth
Environmental influences, Pearl oyster culture
Pearl production
Exploitation and culture of major commercial species
The pearl market
Disease and predation
Population genetics and stock improvement
Economics of pearl farming
Environmental impacts of pearl farming
Biofouling
Future development

Subject Areas: Aquaculture & fish-farming: practice & techniques [TVT], Applied ecology [RNC], Marine biology [PSPM], Hydrobiology [PSP], Ecological science, the Biosphere [PSAF], Fisheries & related industries [KNAF]