Varigin A. Growth of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis Lam. in the bottom settlements of the northwestern Black Sea

The main ecological peculiarity of linear, allometric and weight growth of mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis Lam. in different areas of the northwestern Black Sea were examined in dissertation. Perspectives of using sclerochronological method to receive reliable data about mussel growth in nature settlements were shown. Comparative analysis of the mussel growth parameters in the studied sea areas with different ecological conditions was conducted. Regularities of influence of such environmental factors as, temperature, salinity, depth and substrate on the mussel growth parameters were revealed. Ecologo-functional and age variation of mussel shell shape were studied. The recent year tendency of changes of mussel age structure and growth parameters in the studied sea areas was revealed. Zonation of the northwestern Black Sea based on the mussel growth parameters was conducted