Vyalova O. Features of energy and nitrogen metabolism in unmatured Black Sea mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis Lam. at experimental conditions

The Black Sea bivalve mussels: Mytilus galloprovincialis Lam. From the natural population of off-shore regions of the sea. Revealing the peculiarities of seasonal and daily changes of energy and nitrogen metabolism in unmatured molluscs, the severity of exposure to external factors (temperature, light). The methods of investigations: Winkler's technique, photocolorymetry (method Sedgy-Solorzano, biuretov method), spectrophotometry, computer statistic programmes. Seasonal dynamics of oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion in unmatured mussels were due to temperature changes of sea water. At the first it has been shown that at extremal high and low temperatures role of protein catabolism in mussels is increased. Daily changes of rates of respiration, nitrogen excretion and utilization of different types of energy substrates in metabolism depend upon the peculiarities of vital functions of benthic molluscs. Results obtained can be useful to reveale the new potential species possibilities of young musse ls under changed environmental factors, which may be used for indication of state of mussels under natural and experimental conditions and during cultivation. Hydrobiology, ecophisiology.