Modelling mussel growth in ecosystems with low suspended matter loads using a Dynamic Energy Budget approach

The environmental and the economic importance of shellfish stimulated a great deal of studies on their physiology over the last decades, with many attempts to model their growth. The first models developed to simulate bivalve growth were predominantly based on the Scope For Growth ( SFG) paradigm. In the last years there has been a shift towards the Dynamic Energy Budget ( DEB) paradigm. The general objective of this work is contributing to the evaluation of different approaches to simulate bivalve growth in low seston waters by: (i) implementing a model to simulate mussel growth in low suspended matter ecosystems based on the DEB theory (Kooijman, S.A.L.M., 2000. Dynamic and energy mass budgets in biological systems, Cambridge University Press); (ii) comparing and discussing different approaches to simulate feeding processes, in the light of recently published works both on experimental physiology and physiology modeling; (iii) comparing and discussing results obtained with a model based on EMMY ( Scholten and Smaal, 1998). The model implemented allowed to successfully simulate mussel feeding and shell length growth in two different Galician Rias. Obtained results together with literature data suggest that modeling of bivalve feeding should incorporate physiologic feed-backs related with food digestibility. In spite of considerable advances in bivalve modeling a number of issues is yet to be resolved, with emphasis on the way food sources are represented and feeding processes formulated. Successfully simulation of mussel shell length growth in clear water ecosystems of Galician Rias was achieved with a Dynamic Energy Budget Model. The model allowed an accurate estimate of mussel feeding with a formulation that considered physiologic feed-backs from the digestibility of ingested food. Pedro Duarte, Maria-José Fernandéz-Reiriz, Uxio Labarta. [Display omitted] ► A Dynamic Energy Budget Model of mussel ( Mytilus galloprovincialis) is presented. ► The model is configured and parameterized for low suspended matter ecosystems. ► Results obtained are compared with an EMMY type model published previously. ► Modeling of bivalve feeding should incorporate feed-backs with food digestibility.