Energy transformations by the oyster Ostrea edulis L. in a temperate estuary
Rodhouse, P.G. (1978). Energy transformations by the oyster Ostrea edulis L. in a temperate estuary. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 34(1): 1-22
In: Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. Elsevier: New York. ISSN 0022-0981; e-ISSN 1879-1697, more
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| Abstract |
The energy budget of the oyster Ostrea edulis L. in the estuary of the Beaulieu River, Hampshire is described.Growth in the estuary may be approximated by the von Bertalanffy growth model. Tissue weight (B) is related to shell height (H) by log10 B = −5.334 + 2.947 log10 H, and gonad output (G), as measured directly by collection of ova brooded by females or indirectly by following seasonal changes in condition factor, is related to shell height by log10 G = −8.031 + 4.445 log10 H or log10 G = −6.004 + 3.478 log10 H, respectively. The rate of oxygen consumption in oysters collected in late winter increases with temperature and the mean weight exponent for the rate is 0.914. Filtering rate increases with temperature and the weight exponent for filtering rate is 0.417. Naturally occurring levels of suspended matter do not cause a significant reduction in filtering rate. A minimum water temperature of 6.9°C was reached in the Beaulieu River in early April and a maximum of 23.6°C in mid-August.Total net growth efficiency declines rapidly during the first 6 years of life and then tends to become constant; net growth efficiency of somatic tissue declines exponentially through the entire life of the oyster. |
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