Positive Influence of Mussel Aquaculture on Epibenthic Macrofauna

Human activities have driven habitat degradation and biodiversity loss in marine ecosystems, highlighting the need for strategies that reconcile food production with ecosystem restoration. Restorative aquaculture has emerged as a potential tool to enhance habitat complexity, nutrient cycling, and biodiversity. Here, we develop a systematic literature review to evaluate the ecological effects of mussel aquaculture on macroinvertebrates. The review highlighted a global imbalance between mussel production and research on its ecological benefits, with most studies emphasizing environmental impacts rather than positive ecosystem effects. Mussel farms enhance habitat complexity and provide trophic subsidies through mussel fall-off, supporting higher abundances of crustaceans and echinoderms, including commercial species such as lobsters. Ecological effects vary with spatial scale, production type (inshore vs. offshore), substrate characteristics, and farm structure. The review highlights both ecological benefits and potential risks, including ecological traps. Research gaps include the need for quantitative assessments and long-term monitoring. Mussel farms act as both trophic and structural facilitators, demonstrating how low trophic aquaculture can synergistically support marine biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. Properly managed, mussel farming could transition from a food production activity to a regenerative ecological tool.人类活动已造成海洋生态系统生境退化与生物多样性丧失，凸显出亟需制定兼顾粮食生产与生态系统修复的策略。恢复性水产养殖（Restorative aquaculture）已成为提升生境复杂性、营养循环与生物多样性的潜在工具。本研究通过系统综述评估贻贝养殖（mussel aquaculture）对大型无脊椎动物（macroinvertebrates）的生态效应。本次综述揭示，全球贻贝养殖产量与其生态效益研究之间存在显著失衡：多数研究侧重于环境负面影响，而非其对生态系统的积极效应。贻贝养殖场可提升生境复杂性，并通过贻贝脱落（mussel fall-off）提供营养补贴，助力甲壳类与棘皮动物的种群丰度提升，其中包括龙虾等商业物种。其生态效应会随空间尺度、养殖类型（近岸与离岸）、底质特征以及养殖场结构的差异而发生变化。本次综述同时指出了生态效益与潜在风险，其中包括生态陷阱（ecological traps）。现有研究缺口包括亟需开展定量评估与长期监测。贻贝养殖场兼具营养与结构促进作用，证明低营养级水产养殖可协同助力海洋生物多样性与生态系统韧性提升。若管理得当，贻贝养殖可从一项粮食生产活动转变为具备生态修复功能的工具。