Dynamic Energy Budget model parameter estimation for the bivalve Mytilus californianus: Application of the covariation method

Abstract

Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) models serve as a powerful tool for describing the flow of energy through organ- ismsfrom assimilation offoodtoutilization for maintenance,growth andreproduction.The DEB theoryhas been successfully applied to several bivalve species to compare bioenergetic and physiological strategies for the utili- zation of energy. In particular, mussels within the Mytilus edulis complex (M. edulis,M. galloprovincialis , and M. trossulus) have been the focus of many studies due to their economic and ecological importance, and their worldwide distribution. However, DEB parameter values have never been estimated for Mytilus californianus ,a species that is an ecological dominant on rocky intertidal shores on the west coast of North America and which likely varies considerably from mussels in the M. edulis complex in its physiology. We estimated a set of DEB parameters for M. californianus using the covariation method estimation procedure and compared these to parameter values from other bivalve species. Model parameters were used to compare sensitivity to environ- mental variability among species, as a first examination of how strategies for physiologically contending with environmental change by M. californianus may differ from those of other bivalves. Results suggest that based on the parameter set obtained, M. californianus has favorable energetic strategies enabling it to contend with a range of environmental conditions. For instance, the allocation fraction of reserve to soma ( κ ) is among the highest of any bivalves, which is consistent with the observation that this species can survive over a wide range of environmental conditions, including prolonged periods of starvation