Morphology, morphometry and population dynamics of the mussel Brachidontes pharaonis from the western region of Gulf of Suez

Abstract

The morphology, morphometry and population dynamics of the mussel Brachidontes pharaonis from the rocky shore of the western region of Gulf of Suez at National Institution of Oceanography and Fisheries, Suez were studied. The study area was described as well as the species composition. The external and interior shell morphology of B. pharaonis was described. The estimated constants A and B for the morphometric relationships were computed. The shell length of B. pharaonis ranged between 4.5 to 32.5 mm with mean 17.9 mm and the corresponding total body weight (TBWt) was 0.015 to 2.195 g with mean 1.498g. The lengthfrequency distribution of monthly samples from July 2019 2019 to May 2020 has been studied. The age and growth of 674 specimens of this species were estimated by using length-frequency distribution method. The von-Bertalanffy growth parameters (VBGP) were L∞=34.13 mm, K=1.0yr -1 , t 0 = 0.0yr -1 , W∞=3.11 g. The growth performance index (φ) was 3.66 for length and 3.0 for weight. The length-weight relationship indicated negative allometric growth (b=2.5391).