Effects of storage temperature on oxygen depletion in intra-valve water and survival of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis Lmk

Mussels are commonly air‐stored during transportation and as a result suffer from anoxia. In this study, storage temperature effects on the viability and characteristics of the released intra‐valve water of mussels were examined. Mussels kept at 20°C released all of their intra‐valve water within approximately 60 h and died within 4 days; oxygen concentration in the intra‐valve water dropped below the detectable level. In contrast, mussels kept at 0 and 5°C released 8.8% and 12% of their intra‐valve water, respectively. The oxygen concentration in this water remained stable at about 3–4 mg L⁻¹ until hour 72 of exposure to air and all mussels survived (5°C). Mussels immersed in seawater over‐saturated with oxygen (35 mg L⁻¹) did not show any uptake of the surplus oxygen into their intra‐valve water.