Ecosystem services provided by a non-cultured shellfish species: The common cockle Cerastoderma edule

Carss, David N.; Brito, Ana C.; Chainho, Paula; Ciutat, Aurélie; Montaudouin, Xavier de; Otero, Rosa M. Fernández; Incera, Mónica; Garbutt, Angus; Goedknegt, M. Anouk; Lynch, Sharon A.; Mahony, Kate; Maire, Olivier; Malham, Shelagh K.; Orvain, Francis; Olivier, Andrew van der Schatte; Jones, Laurence

doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.104931

Cited by 55 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…These cycles are particularly evident in marine invertebrates (e.g., Gamboa-Álvarez et al, 2020;Uthicke et al, 2009;van der Meer et al, 2001), which play vital roles ecologically. The common cockle (Cerastoderma edule, Cardiidae) is a suitable model organism due to its wide geographic range and well-studied biological characteristics (Malham et al, 2012), as well as ecological and commercial significance (Carss et al, 2020). The common cockle is found along Atlantic coasts, from Norway to West Africa (Allcock et al, 1995;Honkoop et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Latitudinal influence on gametogenesis and host–parasite ecology in a marine bivalve model

Mahony

Lynch

Egerton

et al. 2021

Ecology and Evolution

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Reproduction and parasites have significant impacts on marine animal populations globally. This study aimed to investigate the associative effects of host reproduction and a host–parasite interplay on a marine bivalve, along a geographic gradient of latitude. Cockles Cerastoderma edule were sampled from five European sites (54°N to 40°N), between April 2018 and October 2019. A histological survey provided data on trematode (metacercaria and sporocyst life stages), prevalence, and cockle stage of gametogenesis to assess the influence of a latitudinal gradient on both interplays. Sex ratios at the northernmost sites were skewed toward females, and spawning size was reduced at the lower latitudes. Trematode infection did not follow a latitudinal gradient. Localized site‐related drivers, namely seawater temperature, varied spatially, having an impact on cockle–trematode interactions. Spawning was related to elevated temperatures at all sites. Prolonged spawning occurred at southern latitudes, where seawater temperatures were warmer. Trematode prevalence and the impact of trematodes on gametogenesis were found to be spatially variable, but not latitudinally. Therefore, it is not possible to determine the likelihood of boom and bust events in cockles, based on the latitudinal location of a population. In terms of sublethal impacts, it appeared that energy was allocated to reproduction rather than somatic growth in southern populations, with less energy allocated to reproduction in the larger, northern cockles. The demonstrated spatial trend of energy allocation indicates the potential of a temporal trend of reduced cockle growth at northern sites, as a result of warming sea temperatures. This awareness of the spatially varying drivers of populations is crucial considering the potential for these drivers/inhibitors to be exacerbated in a changing marine environment.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Latitudinal influence on gametogenesis and host–parasite ecology in a marine bivalve model

Mahony

Lynch

Egerton

et al. 2021

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Its populations have a large geographic range, being found along European Atlantic coasts from Norway to Senegal [ 8 , 9 ]. Cockles provide a wide range of services, including cultural and ecosystem services [ 10 ]. As an ecosystem engineer, it alters its habitat by bioturbation and influencing hydrodynamics [ 11 , 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mobilisation of data to stakeholder communities. Bridging the research-practice gap using a commercial shellfish species model

et al. 2020

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Knowledge mobilisation is required to "bridge the gap" between research, policy and practice. This activity is dependent on the amount, richness and quality of the data published. To understand the impact of a changing climate on commercial species, stakeholder communities require better knowledge of their past and current situations. The common cockle (Cerastoderma edule) is an excellent model species for this type of analysis, as it is well-studied due to its cultural, commercial and ecological significance in west Europe. Recently, C. edule harvests have decreased, coinciding with frequent mass mortalities, due to factors such as a changing climate and diseases. In this study, macro and micro level marine historical ecology techniques were used to create datasets on topics including: cockle abundance, spawning duration and harvest levels, as well as the ecological factors impacting those cockle populations. These data were correlated with changing climate and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) index to assess if they are drivers of cockle abundance and harvesting. The analyses identified the key stakeholder communities involved in cockle research and data acquisition. It highlighted that data collection was sporadic and lacking in cross-national/stakeholder community coordination. A major finding was that local variability in cockle populations is influenced by biotic (parasites) and abiotic (temperature, legislation and harvesting) factors, and at a global scale by climate (AMO Index). This comprehensive study provided an insight into the European cockle fishery but also highlights the need to identify the type of data required, the importance of standardised monitoring, and dissemination efforts, taking into account the knowledge, source, and audience. These factors are key elements that will be highly beneficial not only to the cockle stakeholder communities but to other commercial species.

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“…This species has a 1- to 2-year generation time [ 12 ] and can potentially grow to a commercial size (shell > 25 mm; [ 13 ]) within 1 year [ 14 ]. Cockles ( Cerastoderma edule ) provide meat and shell by-products, with a potential value of €11.3 M per year [ 15 ]. With Senegal in western Africa as the southernmost limit of its geographical distribution area [ 16 ] and having a thermal range of 4° to 38° in NW Europe [ 17 ], this species is likely able to withstand the impacts of warming in more northern areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological Engineering for the Optimisation of the Land-Based Marine Aquaculture of Coastal Shellfish

Philippart

Dethmers

Molen

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Whilst the demand for nutritious and sustainable seafood is increasing, fishing yields are declining due to overfishing and climate change. The inshore aquaculture of marine molluscs—e.g., the suspension-feeding cockle Cerastoderma edule for NW Europe—might be an alternative practice if cost-effective and nature-based technology enhances growth and survival. Our inshore experiments revealed that increasing the seawater residence time resulted in improved water quality. The reduction in sediment loads and stimulation of pelagic microalgal growth resulted in enhanced shell growth and meat content of the wild cockles seeded into the system. Shorter residence times resulted also in an increase in benthic microalgae, but the concurrent increase in silt content of the sediment appeared to hamper effective filtration by cockles. The growth conditions (with respect to the water and sediment quality) for the inshore cultivation of cockles can indeed be improved by means of ecological engineering, suggesting that the inshore aquaculture of marine shellfish can provide sustainable food and income for coastal communities, in particular when the shellfish farms are located in low-lying salinized coastal areas where common agriculture practices are no longer profitable. The involvement of the shellfishery industry was and will be crucial for studying and understanding the complex practice of cockle cultivation.

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Ecosystem services provided by a non-cultured shellfish species: The common cockle Cerastoderma edule

Cited by 55 publications

References 77 publications

Latitudinal influence on gametogenesis and host–parasite ecology in a marine bivalve model

Latitudinal influence on gametogenesis and host–parasite ecology in a marine bivalve model

Mobilisation of data to stakeholder communities. Bridging the research-practice gap using a commercial shellfish species model

Ecological Engineering for the Optimisation of the Land-Based Marine Aquaculture of Coastal Shellfish

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