Abstract

The heritability of larval size is estimated in Mytilus chilensis, based on a nested design, involving 95 full-sib and 19 half-sib families (19 males each mated to 5 separated females) grown under controlled laboratory conditions. The half-sib heritability estimates at 10, 25 and 40 days for larval and spat shell height ranged between 0.38 ± 0.33 and 0.84 ± 0.45, suggesting that selection for shell size would be effective.