Environmental Variability and Energetic Adaptability of the Great Scallop, Pecten Maximus, Facing Climate Change Environmental Variability and Energetic Adaptability of the Great Scallop, Pecten Maximus, Facing Climate Change

We developed a full life-cycle bioenergetic model for the great scallop P. maximus relying on the concepts of the Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) theory. The covariation method was implemented to estimate the parameters of a standard deb model. Such models are able to predict various metabolic processes from a food availability marker and temperature in the environment. However, suspension-feeders are likely to feed on various trophic sources, from microalgae cells to detritus. They are also able to sort and select food particles very efficiently, depending on their size, energetic value or quality. The present model includes a mechanistic description of the feeding processes, based on Kooijman’s Synthesizing Unit principle which allow one to deal with several food sources. Moreover we tested the hypothesis of a differential selectivity between two potential substrates (phytoplankton cell and the remaining particulate organic matter). Simulations of shell length, daily shell growth rate, dry weight and gonado-somatic index (GSI) variations were carried out and compared to field data from a monitoring conducted in the Bay of Brest (Brittany, France) for six years. The model showed its capacity to efficiently