Flexing your mussels: futureproofing shellfish aquaculture in the face of global climate change
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
Department Name: Biosciences
Abstract
Wild capture fisheries and the farming of fish and shellfish species (aquaculture) are vital for global food security, nutrition, and the livelihood of hundreds of millions of people worldwide. However, the oceans are changing at a rate unprecedented for 300 million years. These changes pose a significant challenge to marine organisms, impacting marine ecosystems and the goods and services that these crucial habitats provide.
Sustainably increasing seafood production is key in order to meet the increasing demand of a population projected to exceed 9 billion by 2050, and whose food demand is likely to increase by 70% during this same period. However, our capacity to do so is currently limited by the overexploitation of wild fish stocks, as well as the environmental impact of fishmeal being used to grow many aquaculture species. Current projections suggest we face a 28 million tonne deficit in demand-supply of seafood within the next decade unless aquaculture growth can be doubled over this same period. Climate change poses a major challenge to this expansion with industrial innovation and scientific expertise being key for addressing one of society's greatest challenges. Promoting the production of species with less environmental impact (i.e. filter-feeding species such as mussels and oysters) arguably offers the main route for sustainable expansion of this sector globally. However, mussels and oysters are also traditionally considered to be amongst the most vulnerable with respect to climate change. Urgent research is therefore required to develop climate change resilient shellfish species to enable future production.
This project will study the impact of elevated temperature and reduced salinity on different species of marine mussels from across their global range. Mussel aquaculture is worth £1.5bn globally, and is the primary aquaculture sector in Europe by weight. Consisting of three closely related species, which readily cross-breed (hybridise), marine mussels also offer a unique opportunity to investigate the impact of hybridisation on climate change tolerance. This is a key existing knowledge gap that when addressed will enable the improved management of farmed mussel populations worldwide, as well as a better understanding of the impact of environment on population structure and evolution in wild stocks.
During my fellowship, I will employ novel genetic technology to develop an industry relevant tool (SNP array) to assist in the production of climate resilient mussels. Subsequently, I will utilise a multidisciplinary experimental approach combining these genetic techniques with traditional measures of mussel performance and physiology, measuring these responses in multiple populations from across the global geographic range. This pioneering approach will enable me to address the overarching question "does hybridisation confer an advantage to multi-stressor exposures in a commercially important bivalve species?" This question is of fundamental scientific importance. Answering it will provide an unprecedented mechanistic understanding of the adaptation and evolution of physiological tolerance in response to abiotic stress in mussels. It also has significant implications for the sustainable development of mussel aquaculture in the 21st century. By providing a unique, industry-relevant, resource that will significantly advance understanding of ecological physiology and evolutionary biology, as well as enable the identification of genes that confer tolerance (e.g. through genome wide association studies) and selective breeding of mussels, this study will revolutionise the future of bivalve aquaculture.
Sustainably increasing seafood production is key in order to meet the increasing demand of a population projected to exceed 9 billion by 2050, and whose food demand is likely to increase by 70% during this same period. However, our capacity to do so is currently limited by the overexploitation of wild fish stocks, as well as the environmental impact of fishmeal being used to grow many aquaculture species. Current projections suggest we face a 28 million tonne deficit in demand-supply of seafood within the next decade unless aquaculture growth can be doubled over this same period. Climate change poses a major challenge to this expansion with industrial innovation and scientific expertise being key for addressing one of society's greatest challenges. Promoting the production of species with less environmental impact (i.e. filter-feeding species such as mussels and oysters) arguably offers the main route for sustainable expansion of this sector globally. However, mussels and oysters are also traditionally considered to be amongst the most vulnerable with respect to climate change. Urgent research is therefore required to develop climate change resilient shellfish species to enable future production.
This project will study the impact of elevated temperature and reduced salinity on different species of marine mussels from across their global range. Mussel aquaculture is worth £1.5bn globally, and is the primary aquaculture sector in Europe by weight. Consisting of three closely related species, which readily cross-breed (hybridise), marine mussels also offer a unique opportunity to investigate the impact of hybridisation on climate change tolerance. This is a key existing knowledge gap that when addressed will enable the improved management of farmed mussel populations worldwide, as well as a better understanding of the impact of environment on population structure and evolution in wild stocks.
During my fellowship, I will employ novel genetic technology to develop an industry relevant tool (SNP array) to assist in the production of climate resilient mussels. Subsequently, I will utilise a multidisciplinary experimental approach combining these genetic techniques with traditional measures of mussel performance and physiology, measuring these responses in multiple populations from across the global geographic range. This pioneering approach will enable me to address the overarching question "does hybridisation confer an advantage to multi-stressor exposures in a commercially important bivalve species?" This question is of fundamental scientific importance. Answering it will provide an unprecedented mechanistic understanding of the adaptation and evolution of physiological tolerance in response to abiotic stress in mussels. It also has significant implications for the sustainable development of mussel aquaculture in the 21st century. By providing a unique, industry-relevant, resource that will significantly advance understanding of ecological physiology and evolutionary biology, as well as enable the identification of genes that confer tolerance (e.g. through genome wide association studies) and selective breeding of mussels, this study will revolutionise the future of bivalve aquaculture.
Publications
Coram A
(2021)
Contribution of social media to cetacean research in Southeast Asia: illuminating populations vulnerable to litter
in Biodiversity and Conservation
Millard RS
(2021)
How do abiotic environmental conditions influence shrimp susceptibility to disease? A critical analysis focussed on White Spot Disease.
in Journal of invertebrate pathology
Mourabit S
(2019)
New insights into organ-specific oxidative stress mechanisms using a novel biosensor zebrafish.
in Environment international
Nascimento-Schulze J
(2021)
Optimizing hatchery practices for genetic improvement of marine bivalves
in Reviews in Aquaculture
Nascimento-Schulze JC
(2023)
SNP discovery and genetic structure in blue mussel species using low coverage sequencing and a medium density 60 K SNP-array.
in Evolutionary applications
Tannenbaum C
(2019)
Sex and gender analysis improves science and engineering.
in Nature
Description | This project has undertaken a global assessment of mussel population genetic and standing genetic variation, across four key species (Mytilus edulis, Mytilus galloprovincialis, Mytilus trossolus and Mytilus chilensis). This data has then been used to develop a novel, high throughput genotyping platform, a SNP array, specifically designed for mussel genetic assessment. Subsequently the tool has been used to assess genetic variability of mussel populations around the south west of the United Kingdom, urbanised ports across Europe (in collaboration with Prof. Nicolas Bierne, Montpelier), signatures of thermal selection in Baltic mussel populations in collaboration with Prof. Frank Melzner (Geomar, Kiel, Germany) and mussel speciation across New Zealand (in collaboration with Prof. Jonathan Gardner, University of Victoria, Wellington) and Australia (in collaboration with Dr. Craig Sherman, Deakin University, Melbourne; and Prof. Cynthia Riginos, University of Queensland). |
Exploitation Route | This genetic tool is of significant value to both academic and commercial sectors, and will be used in research and by commercial mussel farmers to better understand mussel performance and adaptation in relation to their environment. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Environment |
Description | GENDERED INNOVATIONS 2: How Inclusive Analysis Contributes to Research and Innovation |
Geographic Reach | Europe |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Impact | Participant on an expert panel for the European commission, contributing to the production of a policy review, outlining the requirement to include sex and gender analysis in all Horizon Europe activities. Led on all aspects related to marine science, as part of working group 3 on climate change. |
URL | https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/gendered-innovations-2-how-inclusive-analysis-contributes-res... |
Description | A global partnership to understand the fate of native, invasive and hybrid mussels in a warming ocean |
Amount | £77,828 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/V008102/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2020 |
End | 08/2023 |
Description | Developing genetic tools to support a sustainable UK spiny lobster fishery |
Amount | £55,402 (GBP) |
Organisation | European fisheries fund (EFF) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2020 |
End | 06/2020 |
Description | Growing shrimp indoors - using physiology to optimise health (Cefas/Exeter strategic alliance PhD) |
Amount | £88,190 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Exeter |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2019 |
End | 03/2023 |
Description | Optimising the development of a spiny lobster recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) sector |
Amount | £99,673 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ENG3892 |
Organisation | European fisheries fund (EFF) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2019 |
End | 01/2020 |
Description | Optimising the development of a spiny lobster recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) sector |
Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Fishmongers Company |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2019 |
End | 01/2020 |
Description | Some like it hot: understanding evolutionary dynamics to predict adaptive responses of invasive species in a warming world |
Amount | $441,171 (AUD) |
Organisation | Australian Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | Australia |
Start | 06/2022 |
End | 06/2025 |
Description | Will selective breeding future-proof shellfish production against global change? (NERC DTP Case studentship - GW4) |
Amount | £88,190 (GBP) |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2018 |
End | 03/2022 |
Title | Affymetrix axiom 60k mussel SNP array |
Description | A high throughput genotyping platform, developed using the Thermo Scientific Affymetrix Axiom custom design 60k platform. |
Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Tool has been used to research the speciation of mussel populations around south west United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, urbanised ports across Europe, as well as for the diagnostics of transmissible cancer in global mussel samples. |
Title | Low Coverage Whole Genome Resequencing of global Mytilus sp. |
Description | Low Coverage Whole Genome Resequencing of global Mytilus sp. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Results used to develop a novel 60k mussel SNP array |
Description | Australian and New Zealand mussel speciation |
Organisation | Deakin University |
Country | Australia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Provided access to the novel mussel SNP array developed during this fellowship, and ability to process samples. Provided expertise on design of physiological experiments, as well as access to bespoke equipment designed to measure mussel physiology (valve gaping). Staff and student time to contribute to undertaking of experiments in Australia. |
Collaborator Contribution | Collection and shipping of samples for assessing Australian and New Zealand mussel speciation. Facilities for experimentation, including access to Queenscliff shellfish hatchery for mussel larval work, staff time for managing and undertaking research. |
Impact | N/A |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Australian and New Zealand mussel speciation |
Organisation | University of Montpellier |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Provided access to the novel mussel SNP array developed during this fellowship, and ability to process samples. Provided expertise on design of physiological experiments, as well as access to bespoke equipment designed to measure mussel physiology (valve gaping). Staff and student time to contribute to undertaking of experiments in Australia. |
Collaborator Contribution | Collection and shipping of samples for assessing Australian and New Zealand mussel speciation. Facilities for experimentation, including access to Queenscliff shellfish hatchery for mussel larval work, staff time for managing and undertaking research. |
Impact | N/A |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Australian and New Zealand mussel speciation |
Organisation | University of Queensland |
Country | Australia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Provided access to the novel mussel SNP array developed during this fellowship, and ability to process samples. Provided expertise on design of physiological experiments, as well as access to bespoke equipment designed to measure mussel physiology (valve gaping). Staff and student time to contribute to undertaking of experiments in Australia. |
Collaborator Contribution | Collection and shipping of samples for assessing Australian and New Zealand mussel speciation. Facilities for experimentation, including access to Queenscliff shellfish hatchery for mussel larval work, staff time for managing and undertaking research. |
Impact | N/A |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Australian and New Zealand mussel speciation |
Organisation | University of Vermont |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Provided access to the novel mussel SNP array developed during this fellowship, and ability to process samples. Provided expertise on design of physiological experiments, as well as access to bespoke equipment designed to measure mussel physiology (valve gaping). Staff and student time to contribute to undertaking of experiments in Australia. |
Collaborator Contribution | Collection and shipping of samples for assessing Australian and New Zealand mussel speciation. Facilities for experimentation, including access to Queenscliff shellfish hatchery for mussel larval work, staff time for managing and undertaking research. |
Impact | N/A |
Start Year | 2019 |