A bioenergetic model to address carbon sequestration potential of shellfish farming: example from <i>Ruditapes philippinarum</i> in the Venice lagoon

Abstract Shellfish are increasingly been looked at as sustainable food sources that provide additional ecosystem services. However, their role CO2 sinks or is still debated. To quantify it, shell accretion dynamics should be accounted for. the component usually calculated with allometric scaling, in most bivalve models. With this study, was added to a bioenergetic model of Manilla clam (Ruditapes philippinarum), and parameter linking assimilated energy towards growth (KSH) calibrated for four sites, where clams from same cohort were monitored during transplant experiment. The then used calculate fluxes resulting respiration calcification, taking into account CaCO3 stocked emission. findings show KSH varied slightly among sites played moderate sink over whole year. characterized by seasonal variability: net wintertime summer time, suggesting need accounting seasonality shellfish farming included carbon markets.