Analysis of the Dynamics of Marine Structures and Species with Criterial Mathematical Models

Abstract

The influence of the area of artificial substrates (collectors) on the biological parameters of populations of mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck) during their cultivation in the Black Sea has been investigated. For growing mollusks, four types of collectors were used, with different relative areas (ω), i.e., with different ratios of the substrate area (S) per unit length of the collector (L), which were 0.09, 0.21, 0.34, and 0.55. It was found that, during a 1.5-year cultivation, the density (N, ind./m) and biomass (B, kg/m) change and reach a certain stationary state, determined by the relative area of the substrate. It was shown that, on collectors with a higher value of ω, there was a decrease in the average length (L, mm) and weight (W, g) of the mollusk yield. The Boysen–Jensen method was used to calculate the total production of mollusks (P), elimination (E), and specific production (P/B coefficient) for each type of reservoir, and it was shown that P increased with an increase in the substrate area, while E and P/B coefficients decreased. Based on the analysis of the obtained results, it was concluded that during the cultivation of mussels these parameters are regulated by density-dependent population factors (intraspecific competition) for space (substrate) and food.