Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

FOOD AND FEEDING BIOLOGY OF GREEN MUSSEL, PERNA VIRIDIS FROM THE BAY OF BENGAL COAST, BANGLAADESH

Ashraful M.A.K, Zaini B. Assim and Norhadi lsmai

Abstract

This paper reports biological studies with special reference to food and feeding at the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh during February, 2007 to January, 2008. Laboratory analysis of gut contents observed that Perna v:ridis feed on copepod, amphipod, crab and shrimp larvae, phvtoplankton and algae, detritus and some miscellaneous items also. The percentage of stomach in male mussels with food was highest 100% in March and April, 2007 and the lowest (40%) in August, 2007 and female mussels it was found 90% and 30% in March and October, 2007. The highest percentage of male mussels without food was found 60% in August, 2007 and in female it was 70% in October, 2007. In male mussels, the food composition of copepod, amphipod, crab and shrimp larvae, phytoplankton and algae and detritus ranged from 15.1-18.7%, 7.1-8.7%, 0.4-1.2%, 0.1-0.6%, 0.0-0.1% and 68.6-76.6% and in female mussels ranged from 15.1-17.1%, 6.7-7.8%, 0.6-1.2%, 0.4-1.0%, 0.0-0.1% and 70.9-75.4% was found during the study. The highest percentage of copepod 18.7% was found in January, 2008 in male mussels and in female mussels it was 17.1% in February, 2007 and the lowest 15.1% in April, 2007 and July, 2007 in both male and female mussels.