Is gender a factor contributing to the variations in the concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) by the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis

The concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were determined in mantles plus gills, gonads and the remaining soft tissues of males and females from a single population of the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis. In addition, the metal concentrations were determined in the total soft tissues of male and female mussels collected from 15 sampling sites in Malaysia. Females generally accumulated higher concentrations of metals than the males but the difference was not significant (P>0.05). The correlation coefficients showed higher R-values in the females than in the males. Although the differences in the metal concentrations of the tissues were not significant (P>0.05), gender was still an important factor in contributing to the variations of concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn in the soft tissues of P. viridis as was shown by multiple stepwise regression analysis.