Ecology of Freshwater Pearl Mussel, Hyriopsis (Limnoscapha) myersiana (Lea, 1856) in the Maeklong River, Kanchanaburi Province

Abstract

Ecology of freshwater pearl mussel , Hyriopsis (Limnoscapha) myersiana (Lea, 1856) in the Maeklong River, Kanchanaburi Province was studied from April, 1992 to February, 1993. Specimens were collected at every other month from 5 stations. Physico-chemical properties of water at the habitat of mussel were in the favourable range for growth of mussel except the ammonia nitrogen and phosphate value which were higher than the desirable level equal to 0.88±0.2 ppm and 0.88±2.3 ppm, respectively. The majority of soil texture that the mussel was found, was silt loam and the pH was equal to 7.3 - 8.09. Average population of the mussel throughout the year was in the range of 0.2 -10.2 mussel per sq.m. and the measurements were in the range of 2.02-17.94 cm in length, 0.92-6.3 cm in width, 1.34 - 9.75 cm in height and the total weight of 4.0-635 g.