Relationship Between Environmental Factors, Meat Quality and Biochemical Composition Bearded Horse Mussel (Modiolusbarbatus, Linnaeus 1758) Ayvalik Bay, Balikesir- Turkey

Abstract

Consumption of the bivalve and gastropod species from the Mollusca phylum has been increasing recently due to the high quality of their nutrient content compared to the terrestrial species. Especially bivalve species have an important share within the world total aquaculture production amount. The bearded horse mussels, Modiolus barbatus, (Linnaeus 1758) are consumed particularly in Europe. This study has been conducted from April 2016 to March 2017 in Kumru Cove in Ayvalık Bay, Balıkesir (N 39º18’07.6” and E 26º38’01.1”). Environmental conditions such as temperature, salinity, chlorophyll-a, particulate organic matter and particulate inorganic matter were monitored during the sampling period. The meat yield, condition index, shell component index, biochemical composition values were measured and calculated monthly during the study period. The condition index and meat yield values varied by 4.87–10.22 and 17.04 -23.37%, respectively. A negative relationship between protein and carbohydrate and also between carbohydrate and total lipid, and ash and moisture were found in the study (P ≤ 0.05). Temperature fluctuation had effect on salinity, condition index, shell component index, carbohydrate and moisture while seston influenced meat yield (P ≤ 0.05). The morphometric relationship of length/width and length/weight showed a negative allometry, while the isometric relationship was found between length and height.