Increasing mussel transplantation success by initiating self-facilitating feedback mechanisms

Bogaart, Lisanne A. van den; Schotanus, Jildou; Bouma, Tjeerd J.

doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2023.107062

Cited by 4 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…In contrast to our expectations, we observed overall high losses (approximately 75%) with no meaningful differences between spatial configurations, indicating that the BioShell-SMC is not effective on a large scale. When comparing these findings with those from the earlier study (van den Bogaart et al 2023b), it became evident that the losses observed in the current study were more pronounced. Several factors may account for this difference in loss up to April, with one crucial consideration being the substantial impact of year-to-year variations on mussel survival.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

“…In a previous field experiment at the same location, mussels that were transplanted while attached to the BioShell-SMC demonstrated significantly higher survival rates compared to loose mussels (van den Bogaart et al 2023b). Encouraged by these results, we aimed to conduct further research to improve and scale up restoration and aquaculture efforts, incorporating knowledge about the functioning of natural mussel beds.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…They also enable mussels the potential to form patches by migrating away from these structures, while retaining the option to use them as stable structures for shelter or anchor points for forming clusters. Based on previous research (van den Bogaart et al 2023bBogaart et al , 2023c, where migration behavior was observed, we had anticipated a greater degree of mussel dispersion from the structures in this study, due to the substantially higher initial densities. However, we did not observe this horizontal migration, either because it did not occur or because limited visibility at the study site prevented us from capturing it.…”

Section: Implementation Of Spatial Patternsmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…To minimize predation risk, we used larger mussels in our experiment based on findings from our previous study (van den Bogaart et al 2023b). Moreover, we anticipated reduced predation pressure attributed to a safety-in-numbers effect, given the considerably larger scale of the current experiment compared to the previous one.…”

Section: Predationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The use of the BioShell-SMC makes it possible to directly transplant the mussels onto the bottom in high-density clusters, while still attached to the biodegradable structure. The presence of pre-clustered mussels on the BioShell-SMCs has shown to increase the survival of the mussels by offering protection against crab predation, as well as enhancing resistance to hydrodynamic dislodgement (van den Bogaart et al 2023b). Consequently, the BioShell-SMCs hold the potential to enhance restoration or cultivation success by reducing the number of transplants needed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring the impact of spatial patterns on restoration efforts: promoting self‐facilitating feedback mechanisms with an innovative biodegradable seed mussel collector

van den Bogaart,

Capelle,

Schotanus

et al. 2024

Restoration Ecology

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Transplantations of organisms in aquatic ecosystems play an important role in ecological restoration and commercial practices. However, success rates of these transplantations, especially when ecosystem engineers are involved, are often low. To enhance transplantation success, the promotion of self‐facilitation between transplants that mitigate environmental stressors is crucial. Besides, spatial patterns resulting from self‐facilitation can enhance ecosystem resilience. Using blue mussels as a model organism, we explored the possibility of increasing transplantation success in a subtidal ecosystem. We used biodegradable structures (“BioShell‐SMCs”) to ameliorate self‐facilitating feedback mechanisms to overcome environmental stressors in the initial post‐transplantation phase, and to increase transplantation success by implementing large‐scale spatial configurations, mimicking natural mussel bed patterns. The structures are an innovation of traditional seed mussel collectors (SMCs) used in mussel cultivation. They consist of a biodegradable net based on a compound of aliphatic polyesters, filled with empty cockle shells around a coconut fiber rope. We tested whether different spatial configurations could increase transplantation success of mussel seed: low versus high density labyrinth pattern and banded pattern. The results of this experiment showed high losses (approximately 75%), with no significant variation between configurations. The lack of migration due to unexpected retention of the biodegradable net hindered the initiation of natural aggregations, resulting in increased competition among mussels. Besides, factors such as hydrodynamic dislodgement, burial and interannual variation likely contributed to the observed losses. While the BioShell‐SMC has not demonstrated large‐scale success, this research contributes to understanding the mechanisms that underlie successful transplantation strategies in aquatic ecosystems.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: Implementation Of Spatial Patternsmentioning

confidence: 81%

Section: Predationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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