Main Drivers of Fecundity Variability of Mussels along a Latitudinal Gradient: Lessons to Apply for Future Climate Change Scenarios

Bivalve relevance for ecosystem functioning and human food security emphasize the importance of predictions mussel performance under different climate stressors. Here, we address effect a latitudinal gradient temperature availability on fecundity Mediterranean to try better parameterize environmental forcing over reproductive output. We show that plays major role, acting as switching on–off mechanism gametogenesis, while has lower influence but also modulates number gametes produced. Temperature effects depending temporal scale evaluated. Our results support view gametogenesis responds non-linearly with chlorophyll concentration, an issue is largely overlooked in growth, production energy budgets bivalve populations, leading predictive models can overestimate capability mussel’s populations deal change future scenarios.