SOME RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SIZE, FOOD AVAILABILITY AND ENERGY-BALANCE IN THE RIBBED MUSSEL AULACOMYA-ATER

The effects of body size and suspension density on filtration rates, assimilation efficiencies and respiration rates in the ribbed mussel Aulacomya ater (Molina) have been determined by means of short-term laboratory experiments. Filtration rates accelerate rapidly in response to increasing algal concentration up to approximately 10×106 cells Dunaliella primolecta l-1, beyond which a plateau is approached. Percentage increments are greatest in small individuals. Assimilation efficiencies are independent of body size, but decline rapidly with increasing ration to approach zero above 32×106 cells l-1. Increases in respiration rate accompany increments in filtration rate in all but the smallest size class tested. Filtration, assimilation efficiency and respiration measurements are used to calculate ingestion rations, assimilation rations and scope for growth for mussels of different sizes over a range of algal concentrations. Scope for growth, expressed as percentage change in body energy per day, is a declining function of body size, but larger individuals achieve their maximum growth rates at lower ration levels than smaller ones. Growth efficiency is independent of body size, and is maximal at 5×106 cells l-1, where 29 to 43% of ingested ration is converted into body energy. The applicability of these experimental results to natural ecosystems is discussed. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.