Identifying Blue Mussel Species in store bought and locally collected Blue Mussels

Abstract

With the farming of blue mussel species Mytilus edulis (Common Blue Mussel) and Mytilus galloprovincialis (Mediterranean Mussel) being prevalent in BC, it poses a threat to the native species Mytilus Trossulus (Pacific Blue Mussel) as these species compete for resources. With the aim to determine the impact of these invasive species, samples from two large local grocers, an independent seller, and samples collected from False Creek are DNA isolated, then run through a PCR cycle, and finally electrophoresed in a 3% agarose gel to determine each sample’s species. Most samples were inconclusive but two of the locally collected samples were found to be M. galloprovincialis, one of two invasive species.