Naslov
Estimating ecological carrying capacity for finfish mariculture

Autori
Geček, Sunčana ; Jusup, Marko ; Klanjšček, Jasminka ; Legović, Tarzan

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, ostalo

Izvornik
ECEM '07 Conference proceedings / Solidoro, Cosimo - Trst, 2007, 182-182

Skup
The 6th European Conference on Ecological Modelling

Mjesto i datum
Trst, Italija, 27.11.2007. - 30.11.2007

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
ecological carrying capacity; finfish mariculture

Sažetak
Adding finfish mariculture to a marine ecosystem increases eutrophication in the water column and sedimentation below the nets pens. This, in turn, alters functioning of the ecosystem and may adversely affect its organisms, including cultured fish. To maximize production while ensuring sustainibility, we need to know the critical production level at which ecological impact becomes unacceptable. That level is called ecological carrying capacity (ECC) of the ecosystem (MyKindsey et al., 2006). To estimate ECC, we consturcted a model which simulates interactions between mariculture facilities and the environment. We began by adopting set of limiting conditions based on Stigebrandt et al. (2004). NExt we formulated a set of equations that capture the complex interplay of environmental state variables (phytoplankton biomass density, dissolved inorganic nutrients and seawater oxygen concentration) with forcing functions (density of cultured fish and natural irradiance variations). During model construction, we derived novel parameterisation for the (i) emission of inorganic nutrients from a mariculture, (ii) phytoplankton oxygen production and respiration and (iii) oxygen consumption due to bacterial degradation of particulate organic matter. Using the model, we found the ECC which is complient with the listed limiting conditions in an idealised box. To make the estimate applicable to real-life situations, we coupled the box model with a physical model for hydrodynamics and transport. We then calculated ECC for finfish mariculture near Cape Bolinao, Philippines. Simulation results lead to conclusion that spatial distribution of net pens largely affects the ECC.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Geologija

POVEZANOST RADA