Biodeposit contribution to natural sedimentation in a suspended Mytilus galloprovincialis Lmk mussel farm in a Galician Ria (NW Iberian Peninsula)

摘要

This work aimed to study how mussel culture of Mytilus galloprovincialis Lmk modulates the natural sedimentation rates through the water column as key controlling factor of the potential organic load reaching the bottom sediments. To achieve this objective, seston, feces production and natural sedimentation dynamics were characterized during 4 seasonal campaigns at two mussel rafts and at a reference station not affected by the mussel culture in the Ria de Ares-Betanzos (NW Iberian Peninsula).