Characterizing individual variability in mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) growth and testing its physiological drivers using Functional Data Analysis.

ABSTRACT: Determining the magnitude and causes of intrinsic variability is a main issue in the analysis of bivalve growth. Inter-individual variability in bivalve growth has been attributed to differences in the physiological performance. This hypothesis has been commonly tested comparing the physiological rates of fast and slow growers after size differentiation has occurred. This experimental design may detect a link between growth and physiological performance, but we cannot interpret the posterior physiological performance as a driver for the prior growth variability. Considering these limitations, this work introduces a new methodological framework for the analysis of bivalve growth variability. We have conducted sequential measurements of size and physiological performance (feeding, digestion

SUBMITTER: Fuentes-Santos I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6193698 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature