Shurova N. Structural-functional organization of population of the Black Sea mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis

On the basis new method for determination of the individual mussel age according to seasonal shell growth layers, the schemes of morphometric analysis, new principles of establishing phenotype groups, characteristics of the morphological, phenotype, sexual, age structure of mussel, of reproductive parameters, growth rate, production, mortality and life span for Black Sea mussels, the rules governing their spatial and temporal changes were first revealed. In the Black Sea on the basis of morphometric analysis besides typical M.galloprovincialis, edulis- and trossulus-like mollusks have been revealed. The share of edulis-like individuals increases with depth of habitat, trossulus-like mussels are numerous among juvenile mollusks in coastal freshened waters undergo antropogenic transformation. In the conceptual model the influence of eutrophication and introduction of closely related mussel species have been considered. Differences in fertility, growth and mortality rate, life span of different mussel types give evidence on physiological diversity of Black Sea mussels which aids in increasing the total population abundance.