Biometric Characteristic Study of Green Lipped Mussel, Perna viridis (Linnaeus, 1758) From Malad Creek, Mumbai, India

Abstract

Biometric Studies are essential to understand the growth rate of the species which helps understand the growth patterns, reproduction rate and population distribution of the species. Growth patterns of molluscs help in evaluating their production potential and energy flows through populations and their distribution. Perna viridis (Linnaeus, 1758) commonly known as the green-lipped mussel or the Asian green mussel belongs to the family Mytilidae. It is distributed along the Indo-Pacific region. They are attached to the rocky substratum along the coast, in the intertidal region. The Biometric Analysis and Length-Weight Relationship study was carried out on Perna viridis (Linnaeus, 1758) to understand their growth rate and population distribution through the Coast of Mumbai. A total of 100 samples were used in this study. The correlation between the Total Weight of the Shell with the organism (WSO) to the Shell Length (SL), Shell Width (SW) and Shell Height (SH) and the correlation between the Soft Tissue Weight of the Organism (WO) to the Shell Length (SL), Shell Width (SW) and Shell Height (SH) gave an idea about the growth factors. The Relative Condition Factor was determined by equation W = aLb. The b values of each correlation showed negative allometric growth with p value to be p<.001 with same significance in Pearson Correlation test. The Relative Condition Factor of WSO-SW and WSO-SL was observed to be above 1 indicating good growth conditions. Thus, biometric studies are a useful tool in study of Perna viridis (Linnaeus 1758) biology, physiology, ecology, growth potential, stock assessment, genetics and breeding of Perna viridis (Linnaeus, 1758).