Environmental physiology of raft-grown mussels in Goa, India

Abstract

Mussels (@iPerna viridis@@ L.) transplanted from a marine intertidal region and grown under water in the estuarine environment (on a floating raft) display a wide array of physiological adaptations in growth, osmoregulation and annual reproduction cycle. The interaction of environmental parameters influencing growth, as assessed by sequential multi-regression technique, indicated salinity as a dominant factor. Abundance of food material was necessary for growth progression. Development of a physiological mechanism for adjusting water balance in the body to counteract the wide temporal variations in salinity is reported. Synchronization of the annual reproduction cycle with exogenous and endogenous variables and under different environmental and metabolic stresses is discussed. Behavioural, physiological and biochemical adaptations of raft-grown mussels are highlighted