dcsimg
Image of Perna Philipsson 1788
Creatures » » Animal » » Molluscs » Mussels » » Mytilidae »

Green Mussel

Perna viridis (Linnaeus 1758)

Perna viridis

provided by EOL authors
The Asian green mussel, Perna viridis, is a large (> 80 mm) bivalve, with a smooth, elongate shell typical of several mytilids (but see below). It has visible concentric growth rings and a ventral margin that is distinctly concave on one side. The characteristic green coloration comes from the periostrocum, the proteinaceous outer layer of the shell. It is uniformly bright green in juveniles, but dulls to brown with green margins in mature individuals. The inner surfaces of the valves are smooth and iridescent blue to bluish-green in color. A prominent, kidney-shaped retractor muscle scar is present, but the species lacks anterior adductor muscles. Close examination of the beak (i.e., where the two valves hinge together) reveals a pair of hinge teeth on the left valve that interlock with a single hinge tooth on the right valve (DeVictor and Knott undated, NIMPIS 2002, Rajagopal et al. 2005). As is typical of most members of the family, P. viridis attaches to hard surfaces by means of proteinaceous byssal threads. Green mussels are coastal bivalves, typically occurring at depths of less than 10 m, and shown to be tolerant of a wide range of turbidity and pollution (Power 2004). The native range of the Asian green mussel broadly encompasses the Asia-Pacific and Indo-Pacific regions. The known introduced range of the species is extensive and includes portions of coastal Australia, Japan, the Caribbean, and North and South America (Benson et al. 2002; NIMPIS 2002). Green mussels are large, with shells typically reaching 80-100 mm in length and occasionally growing larger than 160 mm (Rajagopal et al. 2005). They live for approximately three years (Power et al 2004). In parts of their native range, rapid growth rates of up to 6-10 mm per month have been reported. In Tampa Bay where the species has been introduced, even more rapid growth rates of 4-5 mm per week have been reported (Power 2004). Reproduction is sexual, sexes are separate, and fertilization is external. Onset of sexual maturity is rapid, occurring at 2-3 months of age in parts of the animal's native range and in as little as 1-2 months in parts of its non-native tange, e.g., Tampa Bay (Power 2004). Green mussels occur in environments whose temperatures range from 10-35ºC and exhibit optimal response at temperatures between 26ºC and 32ºC (Power 2004). Although the reported native thermal range of the green mussel is broad, reduced temperatures have been demonstrated to significantly negatively impact growth rates (Chatterji et al. 1984). The green mussel is euryhaline, able to tolerate both hypersaline conditions (80 ppt) and reduced salinities, e.g., 12 ppt (Sivalingam 1977, Chatterji et al. 1984, Morton, 1987). An optimal salinity range has been reported as 27-33 ppt (Power 2004). Although economically important fisheries and aquaculture industries based green mussels exist within their native range, utilization as a food resource in areas into which they have been introduced is uncommon. Consumption of introduced green mussels taken from polluted waters is discouraged as they are known to accumulate some toxic substances.
license
cc-by-3.0
copyright
adriani sunuddin
original
visit source
partner site
EOL authors

Diagnostic Description

provided by FAO species catalogs
The shell tapers to a sharp, downturned beak and has a smooth surface covered with a periostracum. The ventral margin of the shell is straight or weakly concave. The ridge which supports the ligament connecting the two shell valves is finely pitted. The beak has interlocking teeth: one in the rigth valve and two in the left. The wavy posterior end of the paleal line and the large kidney-shaped adductor muscle are diagnostic features of this species. Periostracum can be vivid green to dark brownish-green near the outer edge and olive-green near the attachment point. The interior of the shell valves is shiny and pale bluish green.

References

  • Poutiers, J. M. - 1998. Bivalves (Acephala, Lamellibranchia: Pellecypoda). In: The living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 1. Seaweeds, corals, bivalves and gastropods. (Carpentier, K. E., Niem, V. H. eds) FAO, Rome, Italy.
  • Rajagopal, S., Venugopalan, V. P, Nair, K.V.K, van der Velde, G, Jenner, H. A. & den Hartog, C - 1998. Reproduction, growth rate and culture potential of the green mussel, Perna viridis (L.) in Edaiyur backwaters, east coast of India. Aquaculture . 162: 187-202.
  • Segnini de Bravo, M.I, Chung, K.S & Perez, J.E - 1998. Salinity and temperature tolerances of the green and brown mussels, Perna viridis and Perna perna (Bivalvia: Mytilidae). Revista de Biologia Tropical. Supplemento 46(5): 121-126.
  • Siddall, S.E. - 1980. A clarification of the genus Perna Mytilidae. Bull. Mar. Sci. 30, 858-870.
  • Sivalingam, P.M. - 1977. Aquaculture of the green mussel, Mytilus viridis Linnaeus in Malaysia. Aquaculture. 11: 297-312.
  • Vakily, J.M. - 1989. The biology and culture of mussels of the genus Perna. ICLARM Studies and Reviews. 17, 63 .pp.

Distribution

provided by FAO species catalogs
This species is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific region, extending from Japan to New Guinea and from the Persian Gulf to South Pacific Islands (Siddall, 1980).

Size

provided by FAO species catalogs
This species can reach 150 mm.

Brief Summary

provided by FAO species catalogs
Up to 10 m depth.Forms dense populations (up to 35000 individuals per square metre).On a variety of structures including vessels, wharves, mariculture equipment, buoys and other hard substrata.This species is an efficient filter feeder, feeding on small zooplankton, phytoplankton an dother suspended fine organis material. Sexes are separate and fertilisation is external. Spawning generally occurs twice a year between early spring and late autumn (Rajagopal et al., 1998), howeveer, in the Philippines and Thailand spawning occurs year round. Sexual maturity occurs at 15-30 mm shell length. Life spans is about 3 years.Found in estuarine habitats with salinities ranging from 18-33 ppt and temperatures from 11-32 °C (Segnini de Bravo et al.,1998). This species showed a broad salinity and temperature tolerance in experimental testing.

Benefits

provided by FAO species catalogs
A popular food, the green mussel is harvested in the wild and grown in aquaculture facilities in its native area. FAO's Yearbook of Fishery Statistics reports a range of yearly capture production from around 20550 mt in 1995 to 21520 mt in 1999 (Philippines, Singapore, Thailand). FAO's Yearbook of Fishery Statistics reports a range of yearly aquaculture production from around 69153 mt in 1995 to 68509 mt in 1999 (India, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand). In China, the Philippines, and Malaysia the green mussel is highly prized as food. Perna viridis can have economic, ecological and human health impacts. Economically, it can cause problems with water systems of industrial complexes by clogging pipes, increasing corrosion and reducing efficiency. It is also a problem for vessels: fouling can raise cost for owners due to increased maintenance, decreased fuel efficiency and blocked or damaged internal pipes. Fouling on mariculture equipment alters maintenance routines, harvest times and may restrict water flow thus effecting product quality. Ecologically, P. viridis is able to outcompete many other fouling species (native mussels), causing changes in community structure and trophic relationships.

Perna viridis

provided by wikipedia EN

Perna viridis, known as the Asian green mussel, is an economically important mussel, a bivalve belonging to the family Mytilidae. It is harvested for food but is also known to harbor toxins and cause damage to submerged structures such as drainage pipes. It is native in the Asia-Pacific region but has been introduced in the Caribbean, and in the waters around Japan, North America, and South America.[1]

Description

Perna viridis

Perna viridis ranges from 80 to 100 millimetres (3 to 4 in) in length and may occasionally reach 165 millimetres (6 in). Its shell ends in a downward-pointing beak. The smooth periostracum is dark green, becoming increasingly brownish towards its point of attachment (umbo), where it is lighter. Younger mussels are bright green and that becomes darker as it ages.[2] The shell's interior has a pale-blue sheen.[3] The mussel has a large mobile foot which it uses to climb vertically should it be covered by sediments. It also produces byssus to help it attach to its substrate.[4]

Perna canaliculus and Perna perna are two similar species, native to the waters of New Zealand and Africa respectively.[5]

Habitat and distribution

The Asian green mussel is found in the coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific region. However the mussels are introduced to other areas as an invasive species via boat hulls and water ballasts.[1]

The mussel inhabits estuarine habitats and is found in densities as high as 35,000 individuals per square meter on any submerged marine object. Although vivid green in appearance, the mussels are shrouded with overgrowth and are often hard to find. The mussels live in waters that are 11–32 °C (52–90 °F) with a wide-ranging salinity of about 18-33 ppt.[3] P. viridis grows fastest at 2 metres (2 yards) below the surface, in high salinity and a high concentration of phytoplankton, although it can tolerate a range of salinity and turbid water.[5]

Ecology and life history

A group of Perna viridis attached on a rocky substrate

The Asian green mussel has separate sexes and fertilizes externally. There are a very few functional hermaphrodites (<0.1%). The mussel's sexual development was shown to be affected by temperature.[6] Spawning ordinarily occurs twice a year between early spring and late autumn; however, the mussels found in the Philippines and Thailand are known to spawn all year round.[3] The zygote transforms to a larva 7–8 hours after fertilization. The larvae stay in the water column for 10–12 days before undergoing metamorphosis into a juvenile and settling onto a surface.[5] The juveniles become sexually mature when they are 15–30 millimetres (121+14 in) in length, a size reached within 2–3 months. Growth is influenced by the availability of food, temperature, water movement,[3] the mussel's age, and caging. Cage culturing can prevent entry of predators and barnacles increases marketability but slows down the mussel's growth rate.[7] The adult can live to up 2–3 years. Due to its fast growth, it can outcompete other fouling organisms and cause changes in marine ecological relationships.[3]

This mussel is a filter feeder that feeds on phytoplankton, zooplankton and suspended organic materials. They are eaten by fishes, crustaceans, seastars, octopuses and humans.[3]

Importance to humans

A worker in Chonburi, Thailand, cutting the beards and removing barnacles from Asian green mussels

P. viridis is harvested in the Indo-Pacific region as a food source due to its fast growth. However, it can harbor deadly Saxitoxin produced by the dinoflagellates that it feeds upon. It can also be used as a biomonitor to indicate pollution caused by heavy metals, organochlorides and petroleum products.[1] Mussels that are in contaminated areas have labile lysosomal membranes due to metal-induced stress.[8]

This mussel is also notorious for clogging water pipes used by industrial complexes and fouling marine equipment. It has fouled the intake condenser tunnels of power plants in India and Florida and navigational buoys in China where their biomass has grown to up to 72 kilograms per square metre (15 lb/sq ft).[2] Chlorination of pipes and using high velocity water was shown to decrease or remove P. viridis population.[1] However, the mussel excretes ammonia which reacts with the chlorine to form monochloramine, a weaker disinfectant than chlorine. Ammonia can also accelerate the corrosion of copper-based alloys found in the water pipes.[9] Heat treatment is also being considered as an alternative to chlorination due to the safety and environmental concerns raised by the latter method.[10]

As an invasive species, the mollusk is viewed as threat to oyster fisheries in several nations where it has been introduced. It might also displace native mussels by introducing harmful parasites and diseases.[2]

The green mussel is edible and used widely in several Asian cuisines.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Asian Green Mussel". Global Invasive Species Database. Retrieved 2007-09-25.
  2. ^ a b c Florida Caribbean Science Center (2001-05-15). "NONINDIGENOUS SPECIES INFORMATION BULLETIN: Green mussel, Perna viridis (Linnaeus" (PDF). U.S. Geological Survey. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2004-07-20. Retrieved 2008-04-25.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Asian Green Mussel" (PDF). National Introduced Pest Marine Information System. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2003-07-29. Retrieved 2007-09-25.
  4. ^ Seed, R; C. A. Richardson (15 June 1999). "Evolutionary traits in Perna viridis (Linnaeus) and Septifer virgatus (Wiegmann) (Bivalvia: Mytilidae)". Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 239 (2): 273–287. doi:10.1016/S0022-0981(99)00043-X.
  5. ^ a b c "Perna viridis (Linnaeus, 1758)". Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission. Archived from the original on 2007-07-08. Retrieved 2007-09-25.
  6. ^ Lee, S.Y. (1988). "The Reproductive Cycle and Sexuality of the Green Mussel Perna Viridis (L.) (Bivalvia: Mytilacea) in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong". Journal of Molluscan Studies. 54 (3): 317–323. doi:10.1093/mollus/54.3.317.
  7. ^ Marine Biological Association of Hong Kong; Brian Morton (1986). Asian Marine Biology. Hong Kong University Press. p. 111. ISBN 962-209-187-3. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
  8. ^ Nicholson, Shaun (January 1999). "Cytological and Physiological Biomarker Responses from Green Mussels, Perna viridis (L.) Transplanted to Contaminated Sites in Hong Kong Coastal Waters". Marine Pollution Bulletin. 39 (1–12): 261–268. Bibcode:1999MarPB..39..261N. doi:10.1016/S0025-326X(98)90189-8.
  9. ^ MASILAMONI, J. GUNASINGH; J. AZARIAH; K. NANDAKUMAR; K. SAMEUL JESUDOSS; K. K. SATPATHY; K.V.K. NAIR (2001). "Excretory Products of Green Mussel Perna viridis L. and their Implications on Power Plant Operation" (PDF). Turk J Zool. 25: 117–125. Retrieved 2007-09-25.
  10. ^ Rajagopal, S; Venugopalan, V P; Azariah, J; Nair, K V K (1995). "Response of the green mussel Perna viridis (L.) to heat treatment in relation to power plant biofouling control". Biofouling. 8 (4): 313–330. doi:10.1080/08927019509378284. Archived from the original on 2009-08-20. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Perna viridis.
Wikispecies has information related to Perna viridis.
license
cc-by-sa-3.0
copyright
Wikipedia authors and editors
original
visit source
partner site
wikipedia EN

Perna viridis: Brief Summary

provided by wikipedia EN

Perna viridis, known as the Asian green mussel, is an economically important mussel, a bivalve belonging to the family Mytilidae. It is harvested for food but is also known to harbor toxins and cause damage to submerged structures such as drainage pipes. It is native in the Asia-Pacific region but has been introduced in the Caribbean, and in the waters around Japan, North America, and South America.

license
cc-by-sa-3.0
copyright
Wikipedia authors and editors
original
visit source
partner site
wikipedia EN