engleski

The Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lmk.) growth rate response to phytoplankton and microzooplankton densities in the Mali Ston Bay (southern Adriatic).

The mali Ston Bay (Croatian Adriatic coast) is one of few areas where European oysters and Mediterranean mussel grow to market size (60 mm) in two years. Scientific attempts at describing the relationship between mussel growth rate and food supply in the Mali Ston Bay have not done in details yet. The Mediterranean mussel shell growth rate and flesh dry weight was investigated monthly at Bistrina Station (8 m max depth) from April 1984 to May 1985. In this study, absolute and allometric growth rate was evaluated at 1, 3 and 6 m depth. Water temperature, salinity and phytoplankton and microzooplankton densities were analysed biweekly at the depth in the intervals of 1 m. Maximum microphytoplankton (2x8 105 cells/l) and nanoplankton densities (4.6 x 106 cells/l) were noted at surface layer in the early summer, and microzooplankton (1759 ind/l) at 6 m depth in the early spring. Best mussel shell growth rate and fly dry weight were observed in period June-July, when an intensive development microphytoplankton and nanophytoplankton cell densities are evident. According to statistical analyses, no significant differences in mussel growth rate were observed between the results obtained at 1, 3 and 6 m depth.

Mediterranean mussel; growth rate; Mali Ston Bay; Adriatic Sea

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