Observation on the community structure of brown mussel Perna indica from the intertidal rocky shores of Vizhinjam, southwest coast of India

Pillai, C S G and Jasmine, S (1991) Observation on the community structure of brown mussel Perna indica from the intertidal rocky shores of Vizhinjam, southwest coast of India. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India, 33 (1&2). pp. 159-165.

[img]
Preview
PDF
Gopi_Jas_159-165.pdf

Download (296kB)
Related URLs:

Abstract

The percentage occurrence by weight of the brown mussel as Perna indica well as the various associated organisms in the community from an intertidal rocky habitat of Vizhinjam for the various months is estimated. The associated organisms on the mussel ccmmunity include, algae, sponges, sea anemones, planarians, polychaetes, sipunculids, amphipods, isopods, cirriped, crabs and gastropods. The percentage biomass of associated organisms range from 2 to 12.29 in the mussel community in various months. Cirriped form the most dominant biofouling organism on mussel. The community starts establishing on the onset of SW monsoon. A clear or distinct succession of associated organisms on the mussel was not observed in various months or season, though the biomass was found to fluctuate without any aistinct trend, in various months. The population of mussel is multimodal in size. The length ranges from 2 mm to 54 mm in a population of nearly one year old. The rate of growth of mussel in the intertidal area is estimated to be 5 mm in the first few months and 4 mm per month in the latter part of the first year. The mortality rate is not estimated though assumed to be of high order judging from the presence of dead attached shells among the living ones. Some modes remain without registering any growth for a period. In the present study the estimated grovrth rate is only for one year since second year population could not be analysed due to total exploitation of the community from the site of collection by local people. It was observed that wherever, there is a profuse settlement of Cellana radiata, Balanus amphitrite or thick algal growth on the rocks the mussel was virtually absent or scarcely populated. However Balanus amphitrit coula establish on mussel very successfully. The influence of pre-existing population of Cellana radiata and B. triteamphi on the settlement of brown mussel spat is not ascertained. Rocks on the lower intertidal zones have denser population of mussels than on upper ones that are subjected to more prolonged exposure at low tides.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: brown mussel; Perna indica; Vizhinjam
Subjects: Molluscan Fisheries
Divisions: CMFRI-Kochi > Marine Capture > Molluscan Fisheries Division
Subject Area > CMFRI > CMFRI-Kochi > Marine Capture > Molluscan Fisheries Division
CMFRI-Kochi > Marine Capture > Molluscan Fisheries Division
Subject Area > CMFRI-Kochi > Marine Capture > Molluscan Fisheries Division
Depositing User: Mr. Arun Surendran
Date Deposited: 14 Jun 2010 08:35
Last Modified: 09 Sep 2015 15:09
URI: http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/id/eprint/833

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item