Abstract

MALAVE, Carmen J  and  PRIETO ARCAS, Antulio S. Producción de Biomasa en el Mejillon verde de localidad de la Península de Araya, Venezuela.. INCI [online]. 2005, vol.30, n.11, pp.699-705. ISSN 0378-1844.

The green mussel Perna viridis, native of the Indo-Pacific, was reported in the Gulf of Paria in 1993, causing large impact in the local coastal communities due to their abundance. Specific production of individual biomass components in a natural population of P. viridis was determined in Guayacan, Sucre state, Venezuela. The Monthly samplings were carried out between August ’02 and August ‘03 and the biomass (dry weight) of gonad, adductor muscle, remaining somatic tissues and shell organic material were evaluated using monthly length-dry weight equations and a model of local population growth. In the samplings, water temperature, salinity, dissolved O₂ and food availability (chlorophyll a) were determined. The largest dry weight gonadal tissue (pg) was observed in August of both years and the minimum in July for the larger individuals, with three probable periods of spawning. Somatic tissues (prt) presented the maximum in September and the minimum in June, while for muscle (pm), the highest value was observed in August ‘03; and the lowest in May. Production of somatic tissues (Prt), muscle (Pm) and shell organic matter (Pc) reached a maximum at 12 months, diminishing thereafter. Gonad production (Pg) evaluated by weight lost (g) in spawning periods increased from 0.10g at 6 months to 1.15g at 2.5 years of age. Total production (P) also increased with age, but the P/B ratio diminished. Reproductive effort (Pg/P) increased from 0.13g to 0.71g at 2.5 years, revealing a population strategy of high gonad productivity that warrants the high biotic potential of the species.

Keywords : Bivalvia; Perna viridis; Producción Específica; Venezuela.