Predicting effective aquaculture in subtropical waters: A dynamic energy budget model for the green lipped mussel, Perna viridis

The green lipped mussel, Perna viridis, is an important aquaculture species throughout the Indo-Pacific region where production is often impacted by environmental degradation. To predict the impacts and mitigate against environmental problems due to various kinds of anthropogenic pollution, such as heavy metals and eutrophication, on P. viridis aquaculture a Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) model was constructed. By integrating species-specific parameters and regional-specific environmental data the DEB model determined how the life history traits of P. viridis respond to changing environmental conditions. Using various levels of basal maintenance costs and food availability to elucidate the energetic costs due to environmental pollution, the DEB model predicted that a 20% increase in basal maintenance cost due to environmental pollution such as heavy metals will result in a subsequent decrease in both lifetime reproductive output and ultimate body size of P. viridis by ~18% and ~8%, respectively. Increasing food availability can, however, mitigate the energetic constraints due to increased basal maintenance cost. The time to reach commercial size, for example, will be longer by 13% and 3% under lower and higher food availability conditions, respectively when there is a 20% increase in maintenance cost due to environmentally induced stress, which would significantly increase the operational cost of an aquaculture facility. In light of the increased importance of P. viridis as an aquaculture species, the P. viridis DEB model can, therefore, be used to illustrate the effects of varying environmental conditions on P. viridis life history traits which are relevant to the success of aquaculture facilities, and contribute towards better management of this species.