Sex-related differences in growth and morphology of blue mussels
Mills, S.C.; Côté, I.M. (2003). Sex-related differences in growth and morphology of blue mussels. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 83(5): 1053-1057
In: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Cambridge University Press/Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom: Cambridge. ISSN 0025-3154; e-ISSN 1469-7769, more
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| Keywords |
ANE, British Isles, England, Norfolk
Biology > Organism morphology > Animal morphology
Body size
Fauna > Aquatic organisms > Aquatic animals > Shellfish > Marine organisms > Marine molluscs
Population functions > Growth
Sexual dimorphism
Mytilus edulis Linnaeus, 1758 [WoRMS]
Norfolk [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal |
| Abstract |
The morphology and growth pattern of male and female blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) from the north Norfolk coast, UK, were studied. In allometric terms, the external shell parameters of females grew faster relative to shell length than those of males. In absolute terms, females also grew more quickly than males for all external shell parameters and for most internal body parts. At a given age, females are therefore larger than males. Females had a higher shell to tissue weight ratio and a relatively heavier foot than males. A discriminant function incorporating age, weight and shell length, width, and height correctly sexed 81% of individuals in the sample from which it was derived. Both natural and sexual selection may be involved in the evolution of sexual dimorphism in blue mussels. |
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