Ecological Energetics and Aquaculture of Bivalve Mollusks

The ecological energetics of bivalve mollusks encompasses the processes by which these organisms acquire, allocate and dissipate energy within coastal and estuarine ecosystems. As efficient filter feeders, bivalves convert suspended particulate organic matter into biomass, playing a pivotal role in nutrient cycling, water clarification and carbon sequestration. Energy budgets in bivalves involve trade-offs between somatic growth, reproductive investment and maintenance metabolism, all of which are influenced by environmental variables such as temperature, food availability and oxygen concentration. In parallel, the burgeoning aquaculture industry harnesses these energetic characteristics to optimise production. Cultivation methods range from bottom culture to suspended net and lantern-net systems, each presenting unique challenges in terms of stocking density, feeding regimes and handling stress. Advances in our understanding of thermal envelopes, hypoxia tolerance and metabolic plasticity underpin site selection and management strategies that seek to maximise growth rates while minimising mortality. The integration of ecological energetics into aquaculture practice not only advances commercial yields but also enhances the sustainability of bivalve farming by reducing ecological footprints and mitigating environmental impacts.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have elucidated how energy allocation shifts during reproductive cycles under thermal stress in scallops. Investigations into adult Nodipecten subnodosus reveal that acute hyperthermia at elevated temperatures provokes transient increases in oxygen consumption and key enzyme activities, indicating heightened metabolic expenditure. Seasonal comparisons demonstrate that during advanced gonad maturation, scallops exhibit diminished adenosine triphosphate reserves balanced by augmented arginine phosphate, reflecting altered energetic priorities. These findings highlight the narrow thermal windows within which scallops maintain energy homeostasis and underscore potential vulnerabilities in a warming climate.

Ecological Energetics and Aquaculture of Bivalve Mollusks publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in ecological energetics and aquaculture of bivalve mollusks across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Ecological energetics: The study of energy flow and allocation within living organisms and their interactions in ecosystems.

Filtration rate: The volume of water cleared of particulate matter per unit time by a bivalve’s feeding activity.

Adductor muscle: The primary muscle that closes the valves of bivalve mollusks and is central to energy expenditure and growth.

Stocking density: The number of cultured organisms per unit area or volume in aquaculture systems.

Hypoxia: A state of reduced dissolved oxygen in water that can limit aerobic metabolism in aquatic organisms.

Spat: The post-larval juvenile stage of bivalves that has settled on a substrate, used as the initial stock in mariculture.

References

1. Warming and hypoxia threaten a valuable scallop fishery: A warning for commercial bivalve ventures in climate change hotspots. Global Change Biology (2023).
2. Flexible Sensing Enabled Nondestructive Detection on Viability/Quality of Live Edible Oyster. Foods (2024).
3. From Isolated Valves to a Potential Marine Living Resource: History, Documented Distribution and Sustainable Population Enhancement Possibilities of the Smooth Scallop (Flexopecten glaber) on the Romanian Coast. Sustainability (2024).
4. Metabolic responses of adult lion’s paw scallops Nodipecten subnodosus exposed to acute hyperthermia in relation to seasonal reproductive effort. Scientific Reports (2020).