Volumen 44 - Número 2: 343-355 | 2009
Article

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 Influence of spat origin and environmental parameters on biochemical composition and biometry of the brown mussel Perna perna (Linné, 1758), under culture conditions

Mirle Narváez¹, Luis Freites^1*, Jeremy Mendoza¹ and Miguel Guevara¹ 

¹Departamento de Biología Pesquera, Instituto Oceanográfico de Venezuela, Universidad de Oriente, C. Postal 6101, A. Postal 245, Cumaná, Estado Sucre, Venezuela

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Biochemical composition, growth, and survival of brown mussels (Perna perna) collected from subtidal and intertidal origins were compared after both groups of mussels were placed on a long line and grown to commercial size in Golfo de Cariaco, Sucre state, Venezuela. During the sampling period, data on length, dry mass of soft tissues and shell, as well as reproductive condition were collected for both groups. Proteins, carbohydrates and lipids were the biochemical components analyzed. Simultaneously, environmental conditions represented by chlorophyll a, salinity, temperature, and seston were registered. At the beginning of the experimental period, which lasted 213 days, lipid and carbohydrate contents were significantly higher in mussels from subtidal origin while no significant differences were observed in proteins between both mussel groups. These differences were only observed until day 15 for lipids and day 21 for carbohydrates. In contrast, no significant differences were observed between groups in growth (length and mass of soft tissues) and condition index, therefore showing similar potential for their use in suspended culture. Regarding the influence of environmental variables, temperature and chlorophyll a showed the strongest effects on biochemical composition of brown mussels.

Key words: Bivalve, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, reproduction

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