Inter-Research > MEPS > v388 > p63-80  
MEPS
Marine Ecology Progress Series

via Mailchimp

MEPS 388:63-80 (2009)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08072

Modelling the impact of aquaculture on early diagenetic processes in sea loch sediments

Daniele Brigolin1,*, Roberto Pastres1, Thomas D. Nickell2, Chris J. Cromey2, David R. Aguilera3,4, Pierre Regnier4,5

1Department of Physical-Chemistry, University of Venice, Calle Larga S.Marta 2137, 30123 Venice, Italy
2Scottish Association for Marine Science, Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, Oban, Argyll PA37 1QA, UK
3DELTARES–TNO Built Environment and Geosciences, Dept. Groundwater quality, Princetonlaan 6, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands
4Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, PO Box 80.021, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands
5Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, CP 160/02, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 50 Av. F. D. Roosevelt,
1050 Brussels, Belgium

ABSTRACT: We present a novel approach for the simulation of the impacts of finfish aquaculture on sedimentary redox dynamics, based on the coupling of a fish farm waste deposition model (DEPOMOD) and a knowledge-based reactive transport model (RTM) of early diagenesis. The integrated model was applied to a salmon fish farm located in a Scottish fjordic sealoch. The major diagenetic processes of the reaction network were first identified on the basis of literature information and historic data. Next, the organic carbon (OC) flux at a pristine site near the farm was estimated by fitting the vertical profiles of pore water and solid-state chemical species measured in the field. DEPOMOD was then used to predict the fluxes of OC due to the release of uneaten feed and faeces at various distances away from the farm. These fluxes were added to the background ‘natural’ fluxes and used as forcing functions for the RTM. Comparison of the simulated transient profiles with data collected at an impacted site revealed that the RTM model satisfactorily predicted the transient dynamics of the system. We discuss the use of the model for cost-effective environmental impact assessments, site selection and the optimization of husbandry practices.


KEY WORDS: RTM · DEPOMOD · Transient simulation · Loch Creran · Atlantic salmon · Benthic mineralization


Full text in pdf format
Cite this article as: Brigolin D, Pastres R, Nickell TD, Cromey CJ, Aguilera DR, Regnier P (2009) Modelling the impact of aquaculture on early diagenetic processes in sea loch sediments. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 388:63-80. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08072

Export citation
Share:    Facebook - - linkedIn

 Previous article Next article