A modelling study of optimal stocking density of mussel populations kept in experimental tanks

Abstract

Measuring physiological rates in the field is a central part of carrying capacity studies, but is labor-intensive. The problem may become especially acute if many sites are to be considered. We present a strategy for estimating site-specific physiological rates based on the modelling of a reference growth experiment. Additional data are provided from monitoring of temperature or taken from the literature. To model growth in the reference experiment, we first took initial values of physiological rates from the literature. We then tuned them to simulate individual growth of a first subset of mussels from the reference experiment. Using the tuned values, we then modeled growth of a second subset of mussels to test the parameter values against their growth. We then modeled growth of mussels as a function of population density to obtain estimates of biomass-density and production-density curves for systems like the reference experiment. These curves provided much of the information usually required for managing cultured populations. We conclude that combining modelling of reference experiments in this way with particle transport models may prove useful for assessing optimal stocking density in situations where intensive field work programs are not possible.