Some characteristics of epibiotic macroinvertebrates in Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) reared in a mariculture of Butrint Lagoon (Albanian coast of Ionian Sea)

Meli, Eni; Arapi, Dritan; Sadikaj, Rigerta

doi:10.2478/bjir-2025-0013

Abstract

The taxonomic analysis of the macroinvertebrates, which represents the association of biofouling on the mussels cultivated in the Butrint Lagoon, has identified 29 taxa that were included in 7 major taxonomic groups. The most significant number of taxa belonged to chordates (7) and molluscs (6). The seasonal average values of species diversity index (D) for the epibiotic macrofauna were: 0.596±0.056 (in summer); 0.638±0.078 (in autumn); 0.474±0.045 (in winter), and 0.682±0.069 (in spring). The evaluations according to seasonal averages gave the following values for the abundances (A,ind/0.1 m²) of epibiotic macrofauna in different parts of the mussel’s strings: A=63.46±52.132 (upper part); A=49.62±42.485 (middle part) and A=30.49±22.004 (lower part). In the period August-October, 2023, the average values of the numerical abundance of the macroinvertebrates according to the three areas in which the mussel cultivation system is situated were: in the Manastir area, 67.3±17.085 ind/0.1m²; in “Mussel’s House” area, 51.2±12.157 ind/0.1m² and in the Ksamil village area, 62.7±11.988 ind/0.1m². The analysis of variance did not confirm the significant differences between three areas (t<1.812;n=10; P>0.05).

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Some characteristics of epibiotic macroinvertebrates in Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) reared in a mariculture of Butrint Lagoon (Albanian coast of Ionian Sea)

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