Buoyant weight technique: Application to freshwater bivalves

摘要

A buoyant weight (W-b) method is described that makes use of bivalve weight underwater. Estimations of air fresh weight (W-f), total dry weight (W-d), shell weight (W-s), and tissue dry weight (W-o) were obtained from species-specific regression equations based on W-b. Standard regression curves were developed for two common freshwater bivalves, the Eastern Elliptio (Elliptio complanata) and the Asian Clam (Corbicula fluminea). Logarithmic estimations of W-b were also generated based on shell morphometric measurements. The estimates based on the technique showed that W-b of E. complanata and C. fluminea are linearly correlated with W-f, W-t, and W-o. In addition, shell volumes (length, height, and width measurements) of both species were shown to be good estimators of W-b. The buoyant weight technique is a simple and nonlethal means of generating different growth parameters in captive and wild freshwater mussels.