The relationship of bioenergetics and the environment to the field growth of cultured bivalves

The field culture of bivalve molluscs is dependent on the production and supply of phytoplankton and other food sources, its consumption by these suspension feeders, and its transformation into bivalve tissue. An understanding of the processes by which food is captured and utilized is fundamental to prediction of bivalve growth and management of shellfish aquaculture. The following perspective considers the role of food quality and quantity in the ingestion and absorption of food particles, as well as the influence of temperature, water circulation and other environmental variables on bivalve energy budgets and growth rate. A particular focus is the role of simulation modelling in quantifying the influence of these variables on scope for growth. Seston depletion is a major influence on cultured animals such that bivalves are limited by both food quality and quantity. Seston depletion can be managed by taking advantage of particle maxima (e.g. resuspension), matching culture species to turbidity gradients, and arranging hanging culture to take advantage of seston renewal in oblique flow. Food limitation interacts with temperature in cold temperate areas where high primary production occurs at low temperatures. Model simulations of mussel growth demonstrate the importance of temperature acclimation of filtration and its relationship to the timing and magnitude of the spring bloom. In addition to the energetics of individual animals, energy flow through culture ecosystems is considered in terms of bivalve processing of organic matter and competition with Zooplankton and fish. Because bioenergetics is at the root of all of these issues, simulation modelling of scope for growth and related components of the ecosystem is a vital tool in prediction and management of commercial bivalve aquaculture.