Estimating the carrying capacity of a coastal inlet for mussel culture

Carver, Claire E.; Mallet, André L.

doi:10.1016/0044-8486(90)90317-g

Cited by 79 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…The spatial distribution of mussel growth in Tracadie Bay must be interpreted in terms of hydrodynamic gradients, internal primary production, interannual differences in the culture environment, the effects of temperature on bioenergetics and spawning, and the extent of mussel culture in the bay. Tidal transport is a major source of food replenishment for suspended mussel culture in small, semi-enclosed Atlantic Canadian inlets (Carver & Mallet 1990, Penney et al 2001. In Tracadie Bay, a net SE flow along incoming channels results in higher currents and salinities in the outer embayment (Dowd et al 2001, Grant et al in press).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bay-scale spatial growth variation of mussels Mytilus edulis in suspended culture, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Waite¹,

Grant²,

Davidson³

2005

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Spatial growth variation of experimentally cultured blue mussels Mytilus edulis in Tracadie Bay, Prince Edward Island, Canada, was consistent in both years of a 2 yr study. The spatial pattern displayed reduced tissue growth along a gradient of decreasing tidal exchange from the inlet mouth to the inner estuary. There was no indication of persistent spatial differences in seston concentration among stations. The data imply that the flux of food (expressed as the product of concentration and current speed) controls the spatial variation in growth, with decreasing flux from the outer to inner bay. Growth trajectories analysed by polynomial regression differed between years despite spatial similarities within each year. Results of multiple regression analyses explaining mussel growth suggested that temporal variability in seston characteristics was more important in explaining growth than annual mean seston levels. Chlorophyll a and meat weight showed similar patterns of increase during 1998. In 1999, higher summer temperatures were more important in determining upper limits of growth, with later growth stimulation apparently in response to an autumn phytoplankton bloom. The pattern of spatial variability in mussel growth, representing decreased growth rates in the inner relative to the outer bay, provided evidence that the density of mussels in Tracadie Bay was exceeding the food supply.KEY WORDS: Mussels · Mussel growth · Food availability · Phytoplankton · Aquaculture · Carrying capacity Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherMar Ecol Prog Ser 297: [157][158][159][160][161][162][163][164][165][166][167] 2005 There are many scales at which food limitation can affect the growth of cultured bivalves. High density at a local scale (e.g. within socking sleeves) may lead to reduced growth of interior bivalves (Parsons & Dadswell 1992, Côté et al. 1994. Seston depletion resulting from the distribution of bivalves on longlines may also affect their growth in the centre of a farm (Pilditch et al. 2001). A large-scale gradient in mussel growth can occur as a result of the interaction between the distribution of phytoplankton, the filtration capacity of local populations, and water circulation patterns in heavily cultured embayments (Dolmer 2000). Seston depletion might be expected to be most severe in the innermost part of a bay if the majority of the food supply is from incoming tides (Dowd 2000). There are surprisingly few studies of spatial variation in growth of cultured bivalves despite the potential importance of this factor to shellfish growth.This study investigated the relationship between blue mussel growth and food supply within an intensely cultured embayment in PEI. Mussel growth was measured coincident with monitoring seston concentrations and temperature at 5 geographically distinct locations within the embayment. Growth trajectories were described statistically and the interaction between mussel growth, environmental variables, and location examined. In a...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bay-scale spatial growth variation of mussels Mytilus edulis in suspended culture, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Waite¹,

Grant²,

Davidson³

2005

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…There were sampling campaigns in several stations over the bay in 1983-1990, 1993and 1999-2000. These authors analysed the temporal and spatial variability of several variables such as temperature, salinity, total suspended particulates, suspended organic matter, nutrients and phytoplankton.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With respect to bivalve culture, carrying capacity has been defined as the maximum standing stock that may be kept within a particular ecosystem to maximise production without negatively affecting growth rate (Carver and Mallet, 1990). Alternatively, and more recently, carrying capacity has been described as the standing stock at which the annual production of the marketable cohort is maximised (Bacher et al, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mathematical modelling to assess the carrying capacity for multi-species culture within coastal waters

Duarte

Meneses

Hawkins

et al. 2003

Ecological Modelling

141

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In the context of aquaculture, carrying capacity is generally understood as the standing stock of a particular species at which production is maximised without negatively affecting growth rates. The estimation of carrying capacity for aquaculture is a complex issue. That complexity stems from the many interactions between and among cultivated and non-cultivated species, as well as between those species and their physical and chemical environments. Mathematical models may help to resolve these interactions, by analysing them in a dynamic manner. Previous carrying capacity models have considered the biogeochemical processes that influence growth of cultivated species in great detail. However, physical processes tend to have been addressed very simplistically. Further, most modelling has been for monocultures, despite the increasing importance of multi-species (=polyculture) systems.We present here a two-dimensional coupled physical-biogeochemical model implemented for Sungo Bay, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China. Sungo Bay is used for extensive polyculture, where bivalve shellfish and kelp are the most important cultivated species. Data collected over 13 years (1983)(1984)(1985)(1986)(1987)(1988)(1989)(1990)(1991)(1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000) was available for modelling. Our main objectives were to implement the model, achieving reasonable calibration and validation with independent data sets, for use in estimating the environmental carrying capacity for polyculture of scallops and oysters.Findings indicate that the model successfully reproduces some of the main features of the simulated system. Although requiring some further work to improve predictive capability in parts, predictions clearly indicate that Sungo Bay is being exploited close to the environmental carrying capacity for suspension-feeding shellfish. Comparison of different culture scenarios also indicates that any significant increase in yield will depend largely on a more optimal spatial distribution of the different cultivated species.

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“…For filter-feeding bivalves, it will mainly depend on natural resources and is thus intimately related to the functioning of the ecosystem (e.g., Carver and Mallet, 1990;Bacher et al, 1998). Bacher et al (2003) outline the utility of using a modelling as opposed to an experimental approach for determining the production carrying capacity of an area.…”

Section: Production Carrying Capacitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of recent carrying capacity models for bivalve culture and recommendations for research and management

McKindsey¹,

Thetmeyer²,

Landry³

et al. 2006

Aquaculture

246

118

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Models and tools for assessing the carrying capacity of an area of interest for bivalve culture can be classified according to their level of complexity and scope. In this report, we discuss and outline four hierarchical categories of carrying capacity studies: physical, production, ecological, and social carrying capacity. The assessment of carrying capacity for progressively higher categories of models is based on a sound understanding of preceding categories. We discuss each in brief and the third in more detail as this is the level at which knowledge is the most lacking and for which science may make the most advances.(1) Physical carrying capacity may be assessed by a combination of hydrodynamic models and physical information, ideally presented and analysed within a Geographic Information System (GIS). (2) Most scientific effort to date has been directed towards modelling production carrying capacity and some of the resulting models have been used successfully to this end. Further development of these models should pay attention to (i) better modelling of feedback mechanisms between bivalve culture and the environment, (ii) a consideration of all steps in the culture process (seed collection, ongrowing, harvesting, and processing), and (iii) culture technique. (3) The modelling of ecological carrying capacity is still in its infancy. The shortcomings mentioned for models for production carrying capacity estimates are even greater for ecological carrying capacity models. GIS may be employed to consider interactions between culture activities and sensitive habitats. (4) It is recommended that social carrying capacity be evaluated only after the preceding levels have been completed so that an unbiased assessment is obtained. This however does not exclude direction from managers for scientists as to which factors (such as water clarity, specific habitats, etc.) should be evaluated. The use of expert systems to aid in management decisions is briefly discussed with a suggested application of a fuzzy expert system to this end.

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Estimating the carrying capacity of a coastal inlet for mussel culture

Cited by 79 publications

References 27 publications

Bay-scale spatial growth variation of mussels Mytilus edulis in suspended culture, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Bay-scale spatial growth variation of mussels Mytilus edulis in suspended culture, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Mathematical modelling to assess the carrying capacity for multi-species culture within coastal waters

Review of recent carrying capacity models for bivalve culture and recommendations for research and management

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