Mineral content and seasonal variation of proximate composition in four sympatric freshwater mussels

OpenAlex · İngilizce

Despite high demand for bivalve meat, favoured in low fat rich protein diets, in many parts of the world freshwater mussels are not consumed and so little information is available about their food quality parameters. To contribute to emerging research on alternative protein sources, the biochemistry and seasonal variation in proximate compositions of four sympatric freshwater mussel species were studied for the first time and it was concluded that phenology, notably the gametogenetic cycle, was directly related to the variation among macronutrients. While the highest crude protein and protein to carbohydrate rates were observed in the widespread bradytictic species Anodonta anatina (Linnaeus, 1758), both were comparable in regionally co-distributed tachytictic species Potomida semirugata (Lamarck, 1819), Unio delicatus I. Lea, 1863 and Leguminaia wheatleyi I. Lea, 1862. Although crude protein rates followed an almost identical trend, the seasonal pattern of carbohydrates was species-specific, suggesting its role in the gametogenetic cycle. Mineral contents of the species were comparable to previously studied freshwater mussel taxa in quantity and composition, while L. wheatleyi had the highest content of five out of ten elements analysed. According our results, the biochemical compositions satisfy requirements for supplementary diets and animal feeds, especially in A. anatina.