Model to Seed Mussel Bottom Leases to Their Carrying Capacity

由于缺乏关于开放养殖系统承载能力的资料，贻贝底地的充分利用受到了阻碍。在贻贝床上方的底栖边界层中，食物颗粒的消耗最近被确定为限制贻贝生产的一个主要因素，就种子/收获产量、肉类产量和贻贝租约生产率（每面积底栖产量）而言。模型预测和现场数据表明，在目前5厘米/秒的速度下，贻贝片的长度仅为一米，可以去除多达25%的可用食物。第一阶段的研究建立了一种实验方法，以获得模型项的实际值，该模型项将预测给定租地的最佳播种密度。还开发了分析贻贝食物颗粒选择行为、贻贝摄食率（消耗和同化）、体积电流速度、底部粗糙度、贻贝密度和底部斑块分布以及食物可用性的技术。本研究的目的是：1)以高可信度证明，承载能力模型将导致肉类产量比目前产量至少增加10%。2)考虑海水中食物颗粒的水平和垂直分布与流量和贻贝消耗的关系，建立了承载力模型，确定了各区段的最佳播种密度。3)将承载能力模型应用于贻贝种子的具体分布，并利用当前速度和食物可得性信息寻找有前景的贻贝养殖新地点。第二阶段将继续在不同的租赁地点进行实地试验，并将这些数据纳入承载能力模型。本研究结果可直接应用于贻贝最佳养殖场地的管理，以及寻找适宜贻贝养殖场地和改进贻贝播种技术的技术。

Utilization of mussel bottom leases to their full potential has been hindered by a lack of information concerning the carrying capacity of open culture systems. Depletion of food particles in the benthic boundary layer above mussel beds has recently been identified as a major factor limiting mussel production in terms of seed/harvest yields, meat yields and mussel lease productivity (yields per area of bottom). Model predictions and field data suggest that as much as 25% of the available food can be removed over a mussel patch length of just one meter at current speeds of 5 cm/sec. Phase I research established an experimental approach to obtain realistic values for the terms of a model which would predict optimal seeding density for a given lease site. Techniques were also developed to analyze mussel food particle selectivity behavior, mussel feeding rates (consumption and assimilation), bulk current speed, bottom roughness, mussel density and bottom patch distribution, and food availability. The objectives of this research are: 1) To document, with a high level of confidence, that the carrying capacity model will result in an increase in meat yield at least 10% over present yields. 2) To develop a carrying capacity model which specifies optimal seeding density for each lease section, and considers the horizontal and vertical distribution of food particles in seawater in relation to flow and mussel consumption. 3) To apply the carrying capacity model to the specific distribution of mussel seed from the seeding vessel, and to use the information about current speed and food availability to find promising new sites for mussel culture. Phase II will continue field experiments at different lease sites and incorporate these data into the carrying capacity model. The results of this research should have direct application to the management of lease sites for optimal yields as well as develop a technique for finding suitable sites for mussel culture, and improving mussel seeding technology.