COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE MORPHOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MUSSEL MYTILUS GALLOPROVINCIALIS FROM DIFFERENT HABITATS (THE CRIMEA, THE BLACK SEA)
The solution of problems on optimizing the biotechnology of mussel cultivation and their effective use in hydrobiological melioration and ecological monitoring depend on the degree of study of their growth and morphometric characteristics. The dimensional structure of settlements cultivated mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis Lam, 1819. are presented in paper. The main morphometric characteristics of shells of mollusks inhabiting various waters of the Black Sea have analyzed. Morphometric parameters of mussels have an adaptive value, therefore they are convenient markers for assessing the state of the surrounding aquatic environment under the conditions of the man-made impact. For mussel cultivation, it is important to take into account and apply the indexes of the ratios of morphometric parameters, because they are sufficiently informative and easily applicable. The aim of the work was to assess the variability of the morphometric parameters of the shells of cultivated mussels on the farm and to compare them with the similar indices of mussels from artificial and natural settlements of various water areas of the Black Sea. Using a caliper with an accuracy of 0.1 mm, length (L), height (H), width (D) were measured. To determine the shape of the shell, the ratio indices were used: the height of the shell to its length H/L (elongation, or relative height), width to length D/L (convexity or sagittal curvature). The length of the mussel shell was divided into three size groups: < 30 mm, 30-40 mm, > 40 mm. During the two-year period of the existence of the mussel farm in the sea, it is not possible to estimate the average increase of mussels due to the release of the mussel community to the dynamic equilibrium phase. The H/L index of mussel shells is suggested as the most indicative in assessing the degree of man-made load. Small mussels (< 30 mm) are most sensitive to man-made pollution (H/L > 0.63). The most promising areas for cultivation of mussels are marked: external raid of the Sevastopol, Laspi bay and the water area of Karadag.