Nutritional profile of the freshwater edible Bivalve Lamellidens corrianus (Lea 1834) and its relation to water quality in the Bhatsa River, India

Abstract

Freshwater bivalve aquaculture is promoted by many fisheries management agencies as an alternative livelihood option for rural fishing communities in tropical developing countries. This study examined the nutritional profile of an edible bivalve Lamellidens corrianus (Lea 1834) and the water quality of its habitat in the Bhatsa River at sampling sites in Vasind and Koshimbi villages. Total length-wet weight and total length-dry weight data of animals collected from Koshimbi showed strong positive allometric relationships. The average moisture content of L. corrianus from Vasind and Koshimbi was estimated as 75.6±7.6 % and 77.7±4.7 %, meat yield 26.5±3.1 % and 24.9±0.5 % and condition index 8±3.5 and 5.7±2.2, respectively. Condition index of L. corrianus revealed significant positive correlation with dissolved oxygen and pH and negative correlation with conductivity, nitrate content, turbidity and total dissolved solids. Nutritional analysis of dry tissues (foot, gill and adductor muscle) of two different size groups (3.0–6.0 cm and 6.1–9.0 cm) showed they contain a high percentage of proteins followed by carbohydrates and lipids. Caloric content was found to be high in gills (2.31–4.43 Kcal.g-1). Thus, aquaculture of L. corrianus can be promoted in Bhatsa River as a good alternate food source to fulfill the nutritional needs of local communities.