Análise do potencial de crescimento de mexilhões azuis em estuários

Diogo João Correia Lourenço

Key information

Authors:

Diogo João Correia Lourenço (Diogo João Correia Lourenço)

Supervisors:

Lígia Laximi Machado de Amorim Pinto (Lígia Laximi Machado de Amorim Pinto); Ramiro Joaquim De Jesus Neves (Ramiro Joaquim De Jesus Neves)

Published in

12/07/2022

Abstract

Mytilus edulis, also known as the blue mussel, is a mussel species cultivated in Europe, but its aquaculture production has declined in recent decades. Investing in blue mussel aquaculture production practices in Portugal's coastal regions and estuaries is an important step toward reversing Europe's blue mussel production decline, and the planning of these practices begins with the study of the growth potential in these regions. The potential growth of blue mussels is studied in two estuarine systems in this project: a schematic estuary and the Tagus estuary. Using MOHID Water, a numerical model, the analysis is carried out by simulating the physical and biogeochemical processes in each estuary, as well as bivalve growth in mussel beds. The mathematical formulation used to simulate the development and metabolism of mussels is described by the DEB model, which relates the evolution of the organism's individual state variables, such as reserve or structure, to environmental conditions, such as food availability. Phytoplankton concentration directly impacts the amount of energy that is assimilated to the mussels’ reserve, and the mobilization rate of energy that is invested in the organism's metabolic needs is dependent on the level of reserve and structure of the mussels. The mussel beds in the Tagus estuary demonstrate potential growth suitable for commercialization. These findings can be used to plan the implementation of blue mussel aquaculture cultivation systems.