Nature more than nurture affects the growth rate of mussels
Prieto, D.; Tamayo, D.; Urrutxurtu, I.; Navarro, E.; Ibarrola, I.; Urrutia, M.B. (2020). Nature more than nurture affects the growth rate of mussels. NPG Scientific Reports 10(1): 3539. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-60312-y
In: Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group). Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 2045-2322; e-ISSN 2045-2322, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Prieto, D.
- Tamayo, D.
- Urrutxurtu, I.
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- Navarro, E.
- Ibarrola, I.
- Urrutia, M.B.
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| Abstract |
We tested the hypothesis that environmental trophic conditions prominent during the growing period (nurture conditions) can modify the differing physiological profiles between fast (F)- and slow (S)-growing juveniles of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Approximately 200 individuals were fed a high organic content diet dosed below the pseudofaeces threshold (BP), whereas another 200 were fed a low organic content diet dosed above the pseudofaeces threshold (AP), forcing them to maintain a continuous production of pseudofaeces. After 3 months, F and S individuals in each rearing condition were selected and used in feeding experiments. We measured the physiological parameters of the energy balance of selected F and S mussels fed on 4 different diets and tested the effects of the rearing condition (BP vs AP) and growth condition (F vs S) upon the physiological variables. Irrespective of the rearing condition, F-mussels attained higher values of scope for growth with the four experimental diets due to their capacity to display higher clearance rates and preingestive selection efficiencies. F-individuals also had higher gill-surface areas than S individuals. We discussed the role of the gills in determining inter-individual growth rate differences in the mussel. |
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