Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2021
Inverting nutrient fluxes across the land-water interface - Exploring the potential of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) farming
Goedkoop, Willem; Choudhury, Maidul I.; Lau, Danny C. P.; Grandin, UlfAbstract
We studied the potential of zebra mussel farming for nutrient retention in a eutrophic lake. Duplicate experimental long-line cultivation units were deployed and mussel growth and nutrient retention were quantified after 28 months. Mussels grew well at shallow water depth (<3 m) and our 625 m(2) (lake area) experimental units produced 507 and 730 kg dry biomass, respectively, of which 94% were shells. These yields corresponded to an average retention of 92.7 +/- 23.1 kg C, 6.1 +/- 0.68 kg N, and 0.43 +/- 0.04 kg P retention, or 742 kg C, 49 kg N, and 3.5 kg P for a full-size (0.5 ha) mussel farm. We estimate that concentrating the long-lines to a depth of 2.5 m would probably have doubled these yields, based on the differences in mussel growth among depths. We further estimate that a full-size cultivation unit (0.5 ha) thus could compensate for the annual total-P run-off from 23 ha, or the biologically available P from approximately 49 ha of agricultural soils. As traditional measures have proven insufficient, decision-makers need to facilitate novel approaches to mitigate the negative effects of cultural eutrophication. We envision that zebra mussel farming, within their invaded range, provides a promising approach to invert nutrient losses in lakes and coastal lagoons.Keywords
Eutrophication; Remediation practices; Nutrient retention; Nature-based solutions; Phosphorus; Nitrogen; Economic analysisPublished in
Journal of Environmental Management2021, volume: 281, article number: 111889
Publisher: ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Authors' information
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment
Choudhury, Maidul Islam (Choudhury, Maidul)
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment
Umeå University
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG6 Clean water
UKÄ Subject classification
Environmental Sciences
Publication Identifiers
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111889
URI (permanent link to this page)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/110997