Abstract: The shell length,shell height,shell width and live body weight were measured in 300 individuals of clam Cyclina sinensis(3 years old)sampled from wild population in coastal Dandong,Liaoning province,and the correlation analysis,multiple regression analysis and path analysis were used to evaluate the correlation among the traits measured and the influence of three morphological characters on live body weight.The results showed that there was very significant correlation among shell length,shell height,shell width,and live body weight(P＜0.01).Among the three morphological traits,shell height showed the maximal direct impact on live body weight(0.742),as the key effective factor on live body weight,and shell width and shell length had the direct effect on the live body weight,0.165 for shell length and 0.079 for shell wide,slightly direct impact on live body weight,even though there was close relationship in correlation efficient.The findings indicate that the shell height is the optimal indicator for improvement of live body weight among morphological traits.The regression equation about shell height(X3) and live body weight(Y)was established through multiple regression analysis as:Y=-51.236+1.745X3.
2013, Vol. 28 
