Crecimiento de <i>Mytella guyanensis</i> (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) en balsas flotantes

Abstract

Growth of the mytilid species Mycella guyanensis was studied on a floating raft in Chira Island. inner Gulf of Nicoya. Costa Rica. Natural seed collection was done with 1.5 m long spat collectors suspended from a wooden raft. The collectors produced a total of 3 kg of seed each (202S seeds per collector) after three months, reaching a mean size of 19.4 mm and 0,79 g per seed. Seed mussels were retubed and resuspended for nine more months and reached a marketable size of 44.4 mm (S.D. 3.43) and 8.5 g (S.D. 1.98). Mean growth rates were 5.7 mm and 0.57 g per month, with a meat yield of 32.7% for the fifth month. As in other mollusks, growth rate was higher during the first six culture months.