SOME MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS AND HEAVY METAL ACCUMULATION IN MUSCLE TISSUE OF Ruditapes decussatus (Linnaeus, 1758)

This study aimed to investigate some morphological features and heavy metal accumulation in muscle tissue of Ruditapes decussatus (Linnaeus, 1758) the spring autumn seasons 2018 Yumurtalık Coastline İskenderun Bay located northeastern Mediterranean Sea. To this end, shell length (SL), total weight (TW), height (SH), inflation (SI), (SW), roundness index (RI), cup (CI) length-weight relationship (LWR) Bivalvia were measured for two seasons. Minimum maximum values SL, TW, SH, SI, SW, RI CI determined as 21.50-39.00 mm, 0.80-22.15 g, 10.50-28.70 9.11-20.90 3.08-4.66 1.03-2.14 0.58-0.67 respectively. The between R. was calculated be W=0.0052*SL2.54 W=0.0031*SL2.88 autumn. growth type specimens isometric (2.971). Heavy found statistically significant only zinc copper different (P