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Food chain patterns in the Ría de Arosa, Spain: an area of intense mussel aquaculture
Tenore, K.R.; González, N. (1976). Food chain patterns in the Ría de Arosa, Spain: an area of intense mussel aquaculture, in: Persoone, G. et al. (Ed.) Proceedings of the 10th European Symposium on Marine Biology, Ostend, Belgium, Sept. 17-23, 1975: 2. Population dynamics of marine organisms in relation with nutrient cycling in shallow waters. pp. 601-619
In: Persoone, G.; Jaspers, E. (Ed.) (1976). Proceedings of the 10th European Symposium on Marine Biology, Ostend, Belgium, Sept. 17-23, 1975: 2. Population dynamics of marine organisms in relation with nutrient cycling in shallow waters. IZWO/Universa Press: Wetteren. ISBN 90-6281-002-0. 712 pp., more

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Document type: Conference paper

Keyword
    Marine/Coastal

Authors  Top 
  • Tenore, K.R.
  • González, N.

Abstract
    The Rías of Galicia in northwest Spain, particularly the Ría de Arosa, are among the world's greatest producers of commercially-valuable shellfish, especially by raft culture of the edible mussel. We have investigated the nutrient conditions and biota of the Ria de Arosa to under- stand: 1) the role of nutrient intrusion and upwelling and concomitant primary productivity and 2) the effect of the intense mussel culture on food chain patterns. The Ria de Arosa is in reality an oceanic system with coastal wind patterns and the stratigraphy of the Ría causing displacement upwelling of nitrate-rich oceanic water. This periodic upwelling results in high primary productivity rates and phytoplankton standing crops that support the large mussel culture. Surveys of the mussels and associated epifauna and infaunal benthos indicate that the three dimensional raft culture provides habitat and that the associated food resource of mussel biodeposits provides a food ressource that enhances secondary production in the Ría. The food chain pattern of the Ría appears to effectively exploit the primary production and the detritus produced by the mussels supports a great production of macrobenthic epifauna that in turn are fed upon by fish and crab populations.

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