Performance of a Recirculating Aquaculture System Utilizing an Algal Turf Scrubber for Scaled-Up Captive Rearing of Freshwater Mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae)

Abstract To develop a system supporting rapid growth of juvenile freshwater mussels, a recirculating aquaculture system was designed and built at the Laboratory for Conservation Aquaculture and Aquatic Ecology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The system included a rectangular trough tank, a sump (biofilter), a pump, a microalgae drip feeder, and an air delivery system. An algal turf scrubber (ATS) was evaluated for its potential to maintain and improve water quality within the system. Growth and survival rates of juvenile rainbow mussels Villosa iris after 90 d were compared between system units with and without ATSs. Flow rate through the culture units was approximately 23.3 L/min. Results showed no statistically significant differences between the growth and survival rates of juvenile mussels reared in systems with ATSs and those reared in systems without ATSs. Ammonia and nitrite levels were low and did not differ among treatments. However, systems with ATSs exhibited significantly...

[1]  C. Pizarro,et al.  Treatment of dairy manure effluent using freshwater algae: algal productivity and recovery of manure nutrients using pilot-scale algal turf scrubbers. , 2008, Bioresource technology.

[2]  Sergi Sabater,et al.  ALGAL RESPONSE TO NUTRIENT ENRICHMENT IN FORESTED OLIGOTROPHIC STREAM 1 , 2008, Journal of phycology.

[3]  S. Kovitvadhi,et al.  A laboratory-scale recirculating aquaculture system for juveniles of freshwater pearl mussel Hyriopsis (Limnoscapha) myersiana (Lea, 1856) , 2008 .

[4]  S. Kovitvadhi,et al.  Optimization of diet and culture environment for larvae and juvenile freshwater pearl mussels, Hyriopsis (Limnoscapha) myersiana Lea, 1856 , 2006 .

[5]  Jess W. Jones,et al.  Factors Affecting Survival and Growth of Juvenile Freshwater Mussels Cultured in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems , 2005 .

[6]  B. Parker,et al.  Influence of Sediment and Algal Food on Cultured Juvenile Freshwater Mussels , 1996, Journal of the North American Benthological Society.

[7]  W. Adey,et al.  Purification of industrially contaminated groundwaters using controlled ecosystems , 1996 .

[8]  Kevin S. Cummings,et al.  Conservation Status of Freshwater Mussels of the United States and Canada , 1993 .

[9]  W. Adey,et al.  Phosphorus Removal from Natural Waters Using Controlled Algal Production , 1993 .

[10]  R. Neves,et al.  Seasonal growth and mortality of juveniles of Lampsilis fasciola (Bivalvia: Unionidae) released to a fish hatchery raceway , 2006 .

[11]  M. Myers-Kinzie.  Factors affecting survival and recruitment of unionid mussels in small midwestern streams , 1998 .

[12]  R. Neves,et al.  Survival and Growth of Juvenile Freshwater Mussels (Unionidae) in a Recirculating Aquaculture System , 1998 .

[13]  S. A. Ahlstedt,et al.  Status of aquatic mollusks in the southeastern United States: a downward spiral of diversity , 1997 .

[14]  R. Craggs,et al.  Phosphorus removal from wastewater using an algal turf scrubber , 1996 .

[15]  S. Whyte,et al.  Design and maintenance of a closed artificial seawater system for long-term holding of bivalve shellfish , 1994 .