Modelling mussel growth in ecosystems with low suspended matter loads
Authored by R Filgueira, P Duarte, M J Fernandez-Reiriz, U Labarta
Date Published: 2010
DOI: 10.1016/j.seares.2010.03.006
Sponsors:
No sponsors listed
Platforms:
EcoDynamo
Model Documentation:
Other Narrative
Mathematical description
Model Code URLs:
Model code not found
Abstract
Over the last decades a large number of bivalve growth models were
described in the literature with most emphasis on cultivated species
with important economic value. These models describe the rates of energy
absorption and utilization as a function of environmental conditions.
Some of the most important issues in bivalve modelling are water
pumping, filtration, pre-ingestive rejection/pseudofaeces production and
ingestion of living and non-living organic and inorganic matter.
According to some authors, bivalve suspension-feeders may selectively
ingest and/or digest different food items whilst making adjustments to
maximize the utilization of chlorophyll rich particles. In clear water
ecosystems such as the Galician Rias (total particulate matter (TPM)<3
mg l(-1)), where most of the available seston is phytoplankton, selective processes may be less important than in turbid waters with
high TPM loads. The main objectives of this work were to develop, implement and calibrate an Individual Based Model of mussel growth, configured and parameterized for the environmental conditions of
ecosystems with low suspended matter loads such as the Galician Rias.
Model runs were made for a large number of individual mussels, each with
a random parameter set, selected among possible parameter ranges
reported in the literature, allowing a quick model calibration and an
evaluation of those parameters explaining most of the variance in
predicted mussel growth. Obtained results provide a useful feedback for
upcoming experimental work where efforts should be concentrated on
accurate estimates of these more influential parameters to improve model
results. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Tags
Ecophysiological model
Mytilus-galloprovincialis lmk
Scallop chlamys-farreri
Marennes-oleron
bay
North-west spain
Crassostrea-gigas
Clearance rate
Algal
concentration
Physiological
energetics
Potential applications