Exploratory study to combat brittle stars on mussel culture plots

Mussel farmers are cultivation mussels on mussel culture plots. This are plots that are sublittoral are located in the Eastern Scheldt and in the Waddensea. In the Eastern Scheldt, close to Neeltje Jans, the farmers experience mussel losses because a brittle star species, Ophiotrix fragilis, uses the mussel beds as substrate to get off the sediment. Ophiotrix fragilis filtrated algae from water by lifting the arms into “the air” (water). By sitting on the mussels they can reach higher, but by doing this they form a cover over the mussels with the effect that the mussels are a more or less suffocated and can filter less algae from the water to feed on. So mussel losses are expected to be an effect of space competition and facilitation (between mussels and Ophiotrix fragilis.

We would like to know more on the behavior of Ophiotrix fragilis and want to devise a method or procedure which can prevent Ophiotrix fragilis from climbing on top of mussels or come up with a fishing technique that helps removing Ophiotrix fragile of the mussel beds.

Research type: Desk study & Lab experiments (HZ, Vlissingen)

Research level: Minor, internship (BSc. level)

Perquisite: Preferably affinity with biology, lab work skills

Researcher involved: Research group aquaculture (Eva Hartog/Jacob Capelle)

Period: 2nd semester 2017-2018

Status: Fullfilled