Influence of size and density on filtration rate modeling and nutrient uptake by green mussel (Perna viridis)

This study investigates green mussel filtration rates based on variation of the mussel size and density, and attempts to correlate these with the amount of Chaetoceros calcitrans consumed by kinetic modeling. The filtration rates were found to be more effective in small mussels and with greater volumes of seawater/mussel which represent low mussel densities in the mussel farms. Under field condition, the first order kinetic model is useful for evaluation of mussel filtration rate. However, the composite exponential kinetic model was determined to better describe filtration rates in a close system. Higher ratios of seawater volume L/g DW mussel tissue, resulted in an increasing filtration rate until a maximum plateau was reached at 10.37 L/h/g DW tissue as determined by first order kinetics. Based on the filtration rate, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus uptake by green mussels were found to be 2128.72, 265.41, and 66.67 mg/year/indv, respectively.

► Filtration rates in small mussels were more effective than large mussels. ► Higher densities of green mussel resulted in the lower filtration rate. ► Composite exponential model better describes filtration rate in closed system. ► Filtration rate as a function of mussel density can be estimated using model. ► Nutrient uptake rate by green mussel can be calculated based on filtration rate.