Match/mismatch between the Mytilus edulis larval supply and seston quality: effect on recruitment

Type Article
Date 2012-08
Language English
Author(s) Toupoint Nicolas1, Gilmore-Solomon Lisandre1, Bourque Francois2, Myrand Bruno2, Pernet FabriceORCID3, Olivier Frederic4, Tremblay Rejean1
Affiliation(s) 1 : Univ Quebec Rimouski UQAR, Inst Sci Mer ISMER, Rimouski, PQ G5L 3A1, Canada.
2 : Ctr Maricole Iles De La Madeleine CeMIM, Cap Aux Meules, PQ G4T 1B3, Canada.
3 : IFREMER, Lab Environm Ressources, F-34203 Jean Monnet, Sete, France.
4 : CRESCO, UMR BOREA 7208, Museum Natl Hist Nat, F-35800 Dinard, France.
Source Ecology (0012-9658) (Ecological Soc Amer), 2012-08 , Vol. 93 , N. 8 , P. 1922-1934
DOI 10.1890/11-1292.1
WOS© Times Cited 42
Keyword(s) fatty acids, larval supply, match/mismatch, Mytilus edulis, picoeukaryotes, recruitment, settlement rate, trophic settlement trigger
Abstract We considered Cushing's match/mismatch theory in a heterotrophic environment and hypothesized that settlement and recruitment success in blue mussel are higher when the food supply is rich in polyunsaturated and essential fatty acids (PUFA/EFA). To test this hypothesis, we monitored larval development as well as fatty acid composition in trophic resources during two successive reproductive seasons. The decoupling we found between the presence of competent larvae in the water column and settlement rates strongly suggests that metamorphosis is delayed until conditions are suitable. In both years, the major mussel settlement peak was synchronized with a phytoplanktonic pulse rich in EFA, consisting of a large autotrophic bloom in 2007 and a short but substantial peak of picoeukaryotes in 2008. These results suggest a "trophic settlement trigger'' that indirectly affects recruitment by strongly improving the settlement rate. Despite similar larval settlement rates during both years, the lower 2007 recruitment likely resulted from a mismatch with a high lipid-quality trophic resource. The seasonal trophic conditions differed greatly between the two years, with fatty acids profiles reflecting heterotrophic plankton production in 2007 and mostly autotrophic production in 2008. In agreement with Cushing's theory, our results highlight a match/mismatch, related to the food lipid quality rather than food quantity. For the first time, we show that the recruitment in marine bivalves may be dependent on phytoplanktonic pulses characterized by high levels of PUFA.
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Toupoint Nicolas, Gilmore-Solomon Lisandre, Bourque Francois, Myrand Bruno, Pernet Fabrice, Olivier Frederic, Tremblay Rejean (2012). Match/mismatch between the Mytilus edulis larval supply and seston quality: effect on recruitment. Ecology, 93(8), 1922-1934. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1890/11-1292.1 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00098/20923/