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Resource subsidies from multi-trophic aquaculture affect isotopic niche width in wild blue mussels (Mytilus edulis)
Citation
Weldrick, CK and Jelinski, DE, Resource subsidies from multi-trophic aquaculture affect isotopic niche width in wild blue mussels (Mytilus edulis), Journal of Marine Systems, 157 pp. 118-123. ISSN 0924-7963 (2016) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Crown Copyright © 2016
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.jmarsys.2016.01.001
Abstract
Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) are boreo-temperate, filter-feeding bivalves common to intertidal areas. As filter-feeders they have been employed in open-water, multi-tropic aquaculture systems to reduce organic benthic loading though the exploitation of suspended particulate organic materials. We compared δ13C and δ15N signatures and the isotopic niches of mussels growing in, and adjacent to, an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) farm in British Columbia, Canada, and using this information evaluated the contribution of aquaculture-derived effluent to their diet. Farm-sampled mussels had the least intraspecific isotopic variation compared to mussels sampled at the reference site. The interaction between time (i.e. sampling dates) and site did not significantly affect the isotopic composition of mussels; however significant variation was detected in δ15N values as a function of sampling date and particulate organic matter. A two-source isotopic mixing model indicated that marine particulate organic matter and IMTA farm effluent were approximately equal in importance (~ 46 % and ~ 54 %, respectively) to the diet of IMTA-retrieved mussels. Uptake of IMTA farm waste by M. edulis supports their use as economic extractives while also mitigating farmed sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) nutrient loading to the aquatic environment.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | Mytilus edulis, integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, isotopic niche width, filter feeders, spatial subsidies |
Research Division: | Environmental Sciences |
Research Group: | Environmental management |
Research Field: | Environmental assessment and monitoring |
Objective Division: | Animal Production and Animal Primary Products |
Objective Group: | Fisheries - aquaculture |
Objective Field: | Aquaculture molluscs (excl. oysters) |
UTAS Author: | Weldrick, CK (Dr Christine Weldrick) |
ID Code: | 114648 |
Year Published: | 2016 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 9 |
Deposited By: | Ecology and Biodiversity |
Deposited On: | 2017-02-22 |
Last Modified: | 2017-05-01 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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