Estuarine environments are highly heterogeneous habitats where numerous organisms interact with each other. Aquaculture systems encompass such interactions, and the eventual yields depend on how the cultivated species respond to the environmental heterogeneity. Marine mussels are calcifying organisms that rely on calcium carbonate shell and byssus filaments secreted during their lifetime to protect soft vital tissues against aggressive (abiotic and biotic) environments. Nevertheless, these protective structures can be energetically costly, depending on the environment, thus affecting the energy allocation patterns in the organism. Consequently, other important fitness parameters for the aquaculture industry, such as soft tissue condition and market value, may also be affected. Here, we present a spatial and temporal analysis of the protective and soft tissues responses in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis with the aim of obtaining a better understanding of the inter-location variability in individual’s performance and the corresponding main environmental drivers. Local environment with regard to food availability and hydrodynamics impact very distinctly mussel tenacity and shell thickening, e.g., higher-energy environments at the outer exposed zones caused individuals secreted stronger byssus and thicker shells. By contrast, the state of soft tissues (condition index) was similar between very distinct and distant outer exposed and inner sheltered zones due to differences in both environmental drivers. A novel, intuitive ecological index that measures the impact of both protective and soft tissues was developed and is discussed in relation to cultivation timing. The data presented provides the basis for understanding the natural variability in energetic requirements for different vital tissues in bivalve mollusk that support survival and growth. We report the scientific basis for management actions aimed to shortening the cultivation cycle in the aquaculture sector. These actions are based on the combined use of the PROFIT index and other aquaculture practices (e.g., modifying density). PROFIT helps to identify when the quality of the product, understood as PROtection and FITness strategies, would be best suited for the market.

中文翻译：

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贻贝提高水产养殖商业开发性能的新指标

河口环境是高度异质的栖息地，许多生物在其中相互作用。水产养殖系统包含这种相互作用，最终产量取决于养殖物种对环境异质性的反应。海洋贻贝是钙化生物，依靠其一生中分泌的碳酸钙壳和比丝来保护重要的软组织免受侵袭性（非生物和生物）环境的侵害。然而，这些保护性结构在能量上可能是昂贵的，这取决于环境，从而影响生物体的能量分配模式。因此，水产养殖业的其他重要健康参数，如软组织状况和市场价值，也可能受到影响。这里，我们对贻贝 Mytilus galloprovincialis 的保护和软组织反应进行了空间和时间分析，目的是更好地了解个体表现的位置间变异性和相应的主要环境驱动因素。关于食物供应和流体动力学的当地环境对贻贝的韧性和壳增厚有非常明显的影响，例如，外部暴露区的高能量环境导致个体分泌更强壮的贝壳和更厚的壳。相比之下，由于两种环境驱动因素的差异，软组织状态（状况指数）在非常不同且遥远的外部暴露区和内部遮蔽区之间是相似的。一本小说，开发了衡量保护组织和软组织影响的直观生态指数，并就培养时间进行了讨论。所提供的数据为理解支持生存和生长的双壳类软体动物中不同重要组织的能量需求的自然变化提供了基础。我们报告了旨在缩短水产养殖部门养殖周期的管理行动的科学依据。这些行动基于利润指数和其他水产养殖实践（例如，调整密度）的结合使用。PROFIT 有助于确定产品质量（理解为保护和健康策略）何时最适合市场。所提供的数据为理解支持生存和生长的双壳类软体动物中不同重要组织的能量需求的自然变化提供了基础。我们报告了旨在缩短水产养殖部门养殖周期的管理行动的科学依据。这些行动基于利润指数和其他水产养殖实践（例如，调整密度）的结合使用。PROFIT 有助于确定产品质量（理解为保护和健康策略）何时最适合市场。所提供的数据为理解支持生存和生长的双壳类软体动物中不同重要组织的能量需求的自然变化提供了基础。我们报告了旨在缩短水产养殖部门养殖周期的管理行动的科学依据。这些行动基于利润指数和其他水产养殖实践（例如，调整密度）的结合使用。PROFIT 有助于确定产品质量（理解为保护和健康策略）何时最适合市场。这些行动基于利润指数和其他水产养殖实践（例如，调整密度）的结合使用。PROFIT 有助于确定产品质量（理解为保护和健康策略）何时最适合市场。这些行动基于利润指数和其他水产养殖实践（例如，调整密度）的结合使用。PROFIT 有助于确定产品质量（理解为保护和健康策略）何时最适合市场。