Growth performance and body composition of the clam Cyclina sinensis from different geographic locations after ex situ conservation

The clam Cyclina sinensis is an economically important marine species in China. However, overfishing, habitat destruction, and inbreeding have led to the destruction of genetic resources. In this study, five natural populations [Dandong (DD), Dongying (DY), Tianjin (TJ), Wenzhou (WZ), and Yancheng (YC)] from different geographical locations were relocated and cultured homogeneously to study their potential for translocation and conservation by observing growth performance and body composition. There were significant differences in the growth rates of shell length (SL), shell height (SH), and shell width among the five populations (P