LENGTH-WEIGHT RELATIONSHIPS OF THREE FRESHWATER MUSSEL SPECIES FROM THE AMAZON (UNIONIDA, HYRIIDAE)

Abstract

Length-weight relationships of three freshwater mussel species (Hyriidae), Eastern Amazon: the length-weight relationships allow important biological estimates for the fisheries management of species. Through this relationship, it is possible to estimate the weight of the individuals by their lengths, from which the biomass of the studied population can be determined. In addition, it gathers important data to assess the ecological patterns of different populations. The aim of this study was to analyze the length-weight relationships and their respective meat yields of three species of freshwater mussels: Castalia ambigua, Triplodon corrugatus and Paxyodon syrmatophorus from Capim River Bay, Pará, Brazil. For this, the total length, visceral weight, and total weight of 1,057 individuals were determined. All three relationships were considered strong, with determination coefficients greater than 0.9. The species C. ambigua showed negative allometric growth, while the other species P. syrmatophorus and T. corrugatus showed isometric growth. The species with the highest meat yield was P. syrmatophorus with 14.8%. The study presents the first parameter record of weight-length relationships for these three freshwater mussel species.

Keywords

• bivalvia
• benthos
• morphometry
• mollusk
• meat yield