Nature more than nurture affects the growth rate of mussels

We tested the hypothesis that environmental trophic conditions prominent during the growing period (nurture conditions) can modify the differing physiological profiles between fast (F)- and slow (S)-growing juveniles of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Approximately 200 individuals were fed a high organic content diet dosed below the pseudofaeces threshold (BP), whereas another 200 were fed a low organic content diet dosed above the pseudofaeces threshold (AP), forcing them to maintain a continuous production of pseudofaeces. After 3 months, F and S individuals in each rearing condition were selected and used in feeding experiments. We measured the physiological parameters of the energy balance of selected F and S mussels fed on 4 different diets and tested the effects of the rearing condition (BP vs AP) and growth condition (F vs S) upon the physiological variables. Irrespective of the rearing condition, F-mussels attained higher values of scope for growth with the four experimental diets due to their capacity to display higher clearance rates and preingestive selection efficiencies. F-individuals also had higher gill-surface areas than S individuals. We discussed the role of the gills in determining inter-individual growth rate differences in the mussel.