Intrinsic variability in shell and soft tissue growth of the freshwater mussel Lampsilis siliquoidea.

ABSTRACT: Freshwater mussels are ecologically and economically important members of many aquatic ecosystems, but are globally among the most imperiled taxa. Propagation techniques for mussels have been developed and used to boost declining and restore extirpated populations. Here we use a cohort of propagated mussels to estimate the intrinsic variability in size and growth rate of Lampsilis siliquoidea (a commonly propagated species). Understanding the magnitude and pattern of variation in data is critical to determining whether effects observed in nature or experimental treatments are likely to be important. The coefficient of variation (CV) of L. siliquoidea soft tissues (6.0%) was less than the CV of linear shell dimensions (25.1-66.9%). Size-weight relationships were best when mussel width (the

SUBMITTER: Larson JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4239029 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature