Model to Seed Mussel Bottom Leases to Their Carrying Capacity

由于缺乏关于开放式养殖系统承载能力的信息，贻贝底层租约的充分利用受到了阻碍。贻贝床上方底栖生物边界层中食物颗粒的耗尽最近被认为是限制贻贝产量的一个主要因素，这些因素包括种子/收获产量、肉类产量和贻贝租赁生产力(底部单位面积产量)。模型预测和现场数据表明，在当前5厘米/秒的速度下，在仅一米长的贻贝斑块上，可以去除多达25%的可用食物。第一阶段研究建立了一种实验方法，以获得模型条款的实际值，该模型将预测给定租赁地点的最佳播种密度。还开发了分析贻贝食物颗粒选择性行为、贻贝摄食率(消耗和同化)、整体水流速度、海底粗糙度、贻贝密度和底斑块分布以及食物可获得性的技术。这项研究的目标是：1)以高度的信心证明，承载能力模型将导致肉类产量比目前的产量增加至少10%。2)建立一个承载能力模型，该模型规定了每个租赁区段的最佳播种密度，并考虑了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。3)将承载能力模型应用于贻贝种子从育苗容器中的具体分布，并利用当前速度和食物可获得性的信息来寻找有前景的贻贝养殖新地点。第二阶段将继续在不同租赁地点进行实地试验，并将这些数据纳入承载能力模型。这项研究的结果将直接应用于租赁场地的管理，以获得最佳产量，并开发出一种寻找适合贻贝养殖的地点的技术，并改进贻贝育苗技术。

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.