Skip to main content

IMIS

A new integrated search interface will become available in the next phase of marineinfo.org.
For the time being, please use IMIS to search available data

 

[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

Mytilus species under rope culture in Scotland: implications for management
Dias, P.J.; Bland, M.; Shanks, A.M.; Beaumont, A.R.; Piertney, S.B.; Davies, I.M.; Snow, M. (2009). Mytilus species under rope culture in Scotland: implications for management. Aquacult. Int. 17(5): 437-448. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10499-008-9214-6
In: Aquaculture International. Springer: London. ISSN 0967-6120; e-ISSN 1573-143X, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keywords
    Cultures > Shellfish culture
    Cultures > Shellfish culture > Mollusc culture > Mussel culture
    Hybridization
    Mytilus Linnaeus, 1758 [WoRMS]
    ANE, British Isles, Scotland [Marine Regions]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Blue mussel; Hybridization; Loch; Me 15/16; Mytilus; Scotland; Shellfishaquaculture

Authors  Top 
  • Dias, P.J.
  • Bland, M.
  • Shanks, A.M.
  • Beaumont, A.R., more
  • Piertney, S.B.
  • Davies, I.M., more
  • Snow, M.

Abstract
    Mussel (Mytilus spp.) production is one of the most economically important aspects of global aquaculture and, in Scotland, production has increased from 262 t in 1986 to 4,219 t in 2006. Until recently, mussel production in Scotland was considered to be based exclusively on the blue mussel Mytilus edulis, the native species. In Europe, production is known to consist of M. edulis and M. galloprovincialis, while a third less profitable species M. trossulus occurs in the Baltic Sea, where it is unexploited. In Scotland, the sympatric occurrence of M. edulis, M. trossulus, M. galloprovincialis and their hybrids in cultivation in Loch Etive has recently been reported, with significant losses in production attributed to the presence of M. trossulus. Samples of mussels were taken at three depths from 10 rope-farm sites in Loch Etive. The distribution of the Mytilus species and their hybrids in Loch Etive was investigated using the Me 15/16 nuclear DNA locus for species and hybrid identification. All three species and their hybrids were detected and the data were in agreement with the Hardy–Weinberg model suggesting panmixia. Frequencies of M. galloprovincialis and its hybrids were very low. Overall, M. trossulus (37%) was found to be more common than M. edulis (30%) and 23% of the sampled mussels were M. trossulus × M. edulis hybrids. Species distribution did not correlate with year of settlement nor with salinities taken at the time of sampling. There were significant differences in species distribution due to site location and depth, with M. edulis being more frequent at 8 m depth and M. trossulus more common at shallower depths. These differences might be exploitable in management strategies for continuing production, for example to decrease the prevalence of M. trossulus at shellfish farms in favour of the more desirable M. edulis.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors