Settlement periods of mussels larvae on artificial substrata dipped in the "Mar Piccolo" and the "Mar Grande" of Taranto (Southern Italy).

The Authors analysed the settlement periods of Mytilus galloprovincialis Lam. larvae in the "Mar Piccolo" and in the "Mar Grande" in Taranto (Southern Italy). Data were collected using artificial substrata immersed for different periods (1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year). Larvae settlement was observed under a microscope, whilst measuring the physical dimensions of mussels which hasd just settled. Mussels, settled in the "Mar Piccolo", showed an overall higher growth rate than those which settled in the "Mar Grande".