Kelp production at a shellfish hatchery to mitigate ocean acidification effects and support healthy bivalve development

贝类养殖业在很大程度上依赖于孵化场生产年幼的贝类“种子”，这些种子随后被转移到生长地点。随着海洋变得越来越酸，贝类幼虫难以或无法产生生长和生存所必需的壳，导致广泛的死亡事件和商业孵化场的巨大经济损失。海带在光合作用中吸收海洋中的碳，从而提高海水的溶解氧含量和pH值，从而自然地缓冲海水免受海洋酸化的影响。这可能导致壳钙化条件的改善。****该项目的目标是1)证明在商业贝类孵化场中培养糖海带（Saccharina latissima）的可行性，2)评估海藻是否显著影响孵化场的海水质量。我们将比较海藻池和控制池之间的水质（pH值、文石、碱度、温度、盐度、溶解氧、二氧化碳分压）。我们预测海水pH值、文石和溶解氧水平在海藻池中会更高。****面对不断变化且往往不可预测的海洋条件，迫切需要创新战略来帮助减轻贝类孵化场的海洋酸化。海带不仅是一种对环境负责的缓冲系统，而且本身也是一种有价值的水产养殖产品，受到当地厨师和更大市场的需求。我们希望展示综合海带养殖对贝类养殖业的好处，就可测量的水质而言，这将改善幼虫的发育，从而增加收入。************

The shellfish aquaculture industry relies heavily upon hatcheries to produce young shellfish "seed" that is later transferred to grow-out sites. As oceans become more acidic, shellfish larvae are having difficulty or are unable to produce shells necessary for growth and survival, resulting in widespread mortality events and huge financial losses at commercial hatcheries. Kelp naturally buffers seawater against ocean acidification by absorbing carbon from the ocean during photosynthesis, which raises the dissolved oxygen content and pH of seawater. This may lead to improved conditions for shell calcification. ****The goals of this project are 1) to demonstrate the feasibility of sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) culture within a commercial shellfish hatchery and 2) assess whether the kelp significantly affects seawater quality at the hatchery. We will compare water quality (pH, aragonite, alkalinity, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pCO2) between kelp and control tanks. We predict that seawater pH, aragonite and dissolved oxygen levels will be higher in the kelp tanks.****There is an immediate need for innovative strategies to help mitigate ocean acidification at shellfish hatcheries, in the face of changing and often unpredictable ocean conditions. Kelp is not only an environmentally responsible buffering system, but is itself a valued aquaculture product in demand both by local chefs and in larger markets. We hope to demonstrate the benefits of integrated kelp culture to the shellfish aquaculture industry, in terms of measureable water quality that will improve larval development, leading to increased revenue.************