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Updated: Mar 17, 2026
Standardizing a Non-Lethal Method for Characterizing the Reproductive Status and Larval Development of Freshwater Mussels Bivalvia: Unionida
Published on: October 4, 2019
Sex determination in blue mussels: Which method to choose?
Marc Fraser1, Marlène Fortier2, Pierre-Hervé Roumier3
1INRS - Institut Armand-Frappier, Université du Québec, 531 boulevard des Prairies, Laval, QC, H7V 1B7, Canada; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Well-Being, Health, Society and Environment (CINBIOSE), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Abstract:
Sexing methods of blue mussels are mostly based on the presence or absence of gametes, and do not take into account reproductive cycle stages. Exposure effects can be affected by the sex of mussels, thus the aim of this study is to determine an efficient sex determination protocol taking into account the reproductive cycle stage. Eight mussel sexing methods were compared. This study demonstrates that the first step in discerning sex in blue mussels should be assessing the reproductive stage, which can be done by mantle histology. During gametogenesis, histology allows the differentiation of males from females by the observation of gametes. However, when mussels are in sexual rest, the only method that should be used is the sex-specific gene method.
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