| The oyster growth has been studied for a 10 year period, from 1986 to 1995, in four locations of the bay of Bourgneuf (French Atlantic Coast). The relations between oysters growth and the main molluscs stocks (cultivated oysters and wild mussels) or environmental factors (hydrobiology, currents, climatology) are analysed to understand the functioning of this shellfish ecosystem. As the water renewal time is about two months, primary production is essentially autochtonal. Phytoplankton development is controlled by the nutrients brought by the river Loire. An important part of the microalgac is composed by the microphytobenthos resuspended by west wind. High seston concentrations, measured on the North of the bay (150 mg/1 as an average), have a negative... |
