Life Cycle of Liocarcinus arcuatus (Brachyura: Portunidae) in the Ría de Arousa (Galicia, NW Spain): Role of Beach and Mussel Raft Culture Areas

Abstract. The population biology of the portunid crab Liocarcinus arcuatus is analyzed over a yearly cycle in beach zones and mussel raft culture areas in the Ria de Arousa.
The breeding cycle of this species has two annual peaks, which result in two annual cohorts that are recruited in different areas. The growth rate is higher in the group settled in spring than in autumn, and, especially, in the culture areas compared with the beach zones. There are movements from the beach zones to the raft polygons related to reproductive and feeding behavior as well as growth. The role of mussel culture in the dynamics of this species is discussed.     

Mussel Periostracum from Deep-Sea Redox Communities as a Microbial Habitat: The Scalloping Periostracum Borer

Abstract. A complex and highly unusual eukaryotic microorganism was discovered to be penetrating and removing the periostracum of deep-sea mussels from the Florida Escarpment brine seeps at a depth of 3266 m. These brine seeps support a chemolithoautotrophic redox community similar to those known from Pacific hydrotherma! vents. This microorganism of unknown taxonomic affinity is filamentous and coenocytic, with a simple plasma membrane and no cell wall. It forms prostrate, radiating systems of branched tunnels, 8–15 u.m in diameter. The surface of the tunnels is sculptured by helically organized, scale-like depressions, which are left as scars in the process of periostracum removal by the organism. Periostracum is removed in discrete pieces (scallops) at the ends of the tunnels. This organism has been found at three Atlantic deep-sea redox communities, but not in similar communities of the Pacific.     

富营养化浅水湖泊生态修复中背角无齿蚌(Anodonta woodiana)对水质改善的影响

滤水速率的快慢是决定滤食性河蚌对水质改善与否的关键,但受蚌龄大小、食物多少和季节变化的影响.以背角无齿蚌（Anodonta woodiana）为研究对象,设置幼龄蚌组、成年蚌组和无蚌对照组,在惠州西湖生态修复后的清水态和未修复的富营养化水体同时进行中型系统原位实验,测定了各处理组水层中氮、磷、总悬浮物（TSS）浓度和浮游藻类生物量（用叶绿素a（Chl.a）浓度表示）的季节变化,以研究蚌龄、食物和季节变化对背角无齿蚌水质改善的影响.结果表明,与对照组相比,背角无齿蚌提高了清水态水体总磷（TP）和铵态氮浓度,但对总氮（TN）、TSS和浮游藻类Chl.a浓度的影响不显著,表明其不能有效改善清水态水体水质;富营养化水体中,背角无齿蚌虽对水中TN浓度影响不显著,但显著降低了TP浓度、浮游藻类Chl.a浓度和TSS浓度;表明背角无齿蚌可改善富营养化水体水质;且富营养化水体中幼龄蚌的滤水速率显著高于成年蚌;幼龄蚌的滤水速率春季最大（0.132±0.018 L/（g·h））,夏季最小.因此,在富营养化水体修复前期,可通过放养本地滤食性河蚌,如背角无齿蚌,以改善水质,春季放养幼龄蚌更佳,为接下来的修复创造有利条件;而在生态修复后期的清水态水体中,单独的河蚌对水质改善效果不明显.本研究可为水生态系统保护和富营养化水体生态修复提供参考.     

An individual-based population dynamic model for estimating biomass yield and nutrient fluxes through an off-shore mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) farm

The fluxes of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus through an off-shore long-line Mytilus galloprovincialis farm during a typical rearing cycle were estimated by combining a simple population dynamic model, based on a new individual model, and a set of field data, concerning the composition of the seston, as well as that of mussel meat and faeces. The individual model, based on an energy budget, was validated against a set of original field data, which were purposely collected from July 2006 to May 2007 in the North-Western Adriatic Sea (Italy) and was further tested using historical data. The model was upscaled to the population level by means of a set of Monte Carlo simulations, which were used for estimating the size structure of the population. The daily fluxes of C, N and P associated with mussel filtration, excretion and faeces and pseudo-faeces production were integrated over the 10-month-long rearing cycle and compared with the total amount of C, N and P removed by harvesting. The results indicate that the individual model compares well with an existing literature model and provides reliable estimations of the growth of mussel specimen over a range of trophic conditions which are typical of the Northern Adriatic Sea coastal area. The results of the budget calculation indicate that, even though the harvest represents a net removal of phosphorus and nitrogen from the ecosystem, the mussel farm increases the retention time of both nutrients in the coastal area, via the deposition of faeces and pseudo-faeces on the sea-bed. In fact, the amount of nitrogen associated with deposition is approximately twice the harvested one and the amount of phosphorus is approximately five times higher. These findings are in qualitative agreement with the results of literature budget and model calculations carried out in a temperate coastal embayment. This agreement suggests that the proper assessment of the overall effect of long-line mussel farming on both the benthic and pelagic ecosystem asks for an integrated modelling approach, which should include the dynamic of early diagenesis processes, as well as of that of nutrients released from the surface sediment.     

The Role of Microphytobenthic Primary Production in a Mediterranean Mussel Culture Area

The production and biomass of microphytobenthos in a Mediterranean mussel farm was studied during 1991–92. Gross and net microphytobenthic production and respiration were calculated from oxygen fluxes in transparent and black bell jars at two stations; sediments under a mussel table and reference sediments, both located at 5 m depth. Net oxygen fluxes were mainly negative under the mussel tables (average −19·5 mg O₂ m⁻² h⁻¹, CV=132%), and microphytobenthos production could not meet the sediment oxygen demand; in the reference sediments, microphytobenthos production was responsible for net oxygen production (average +13·0 mg O₂ m⁻² h⁻¹, CV=118%). Benthic respiration rates were, on average, 47·3 mg O₂ m⁻² h⁻¹(CV=82%) under the tables and 27·7 mg O₂ m⁻² h⁻¹(CV=45%) in reference sediments. Aerobic respiration could remineralize less than 2% of the biodeposited carbon under the tables, implying that a large amount of organic material is accumulating under the tables, and that most of the degradation will be anaerobic. Gross microbenthic production showed sharp changes between 1991 and 1992 under the mussel tables and for reference sediments (averages 20·98 mg O₂ m⁻² h⁻¹, CV=135% and 33 mg O₂ m⁻² h⁻¹, CV=48%, respectively). Despite the negative oxygen balance in the sediments under the tables, microphytobenthos was more productive than phytoplankton in bottom waters. Per unit area, phytoplankton was more productive than microphytobenthos at both stations, especially in the area of the mussel tables, where phytoplanktonic production was enhanced by the excretion products of mussels. Microphytobenthos was composed mainly of diatoms in the sediments under the tables, while in reference sediments, the population was more diverse, with algae containing chlorophyllbalso present. Chlorophyllaconcentration in sediments under the tables was 207 mg m⁻²(CV=73%) and 95 mg m⁻²(CV=28%) in reference sediments; the stock of plant pigments was increased under the tables by biodeposition. Microphytobenthos constitutes a compartment with an important contribution in biomass, but also in oxygen production.     

紫贻贝养殖产业的现状、问题与对策

为全面系统地了解中国紫贻贝(Mytilus galloprovincialis)养殖产业情况,作者从养殖产量、养殖面积、进出口贸易、养殖生产等方面概述了紫贻贝产业现状,对中国紫贻贝养殖业的种质资源、苗种生产方式、养殖生产流程、养殖方式等进行了综述,并针对紫贻贝养殖中存在的问题,从种质资源、养殖模式、设施设备、食品安全控...     

Comparing traditional and modern methods of kākahi translocation: implications for ecological restoration

ABSTRACT

Handling methods are an important determinant of translocation success. In Aotearoa/New Zealand, tangata whenua traditionally used insulated kete to translocate aquatic animals to new environments as part of ahumoana tawhito (ancient aquaculture). In this study we investigated the influence of three transport methods (traditional [flax kete], modern [bucket], and a hybrid of the two [bucket with flax support structures]) on the short-term performance (burrowing speed) of kākahi (freshwater mussels). We also tested whether assisted release (planting kākahi in the substrate) resulted in enhanced burrowing speeds. Kākahi that were transported using the traditional method were slower to begin probing the substrate, but there was no difference in overall burrowing speed. We also found that assisted release resulted in faster burrowing speeds. We conclude that handling and release procedures can influence the short-term performance of translocated kākahi, and we recommend procedures for future translocation projects, including transporting animals in immersion vessels where practical, and planting them at the release site     

Relationships of rainfall,river flow,and salinity to faecal coliform levels in a mussel fishery

Faecal coliform levels were determined for sea water and shellfish flesh from farms of the green mussel, Perna canaliculus, in Pelorus Sound, Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand. Simple linear models were developed to relate logarithmically transformed data on the faecal coliform levels to measures of fresh water entering the mussel beds. These models support guidelines to restrict harvesting following periods of heavy rain in order to comply with shellfish sanitation standards. Alternative guidelines are suggested based on the volume of river water entering the sound or salinity.