Growth model of the reared sea urchin Paracentrotus ... - SciViews

Aim of the thesis
AIM OF THE THESIS
The ultimate goal of this work is to formulate a mechanistic model –that is, whose
parameters are functionally interpretable– of somatic growth of the sea urchin
Paracentrotus lividus in cultivation. Artificial culture conditions offer the opportunity
to work with echinoids whose age, genetic origin, environmental and food conditions
are perfectly known. However, we need to set up a rearing protocol adapted to P.
lividus. We have also to define which is the best measurement of body size, and what
it exactly represents (an overall trend in growth, or just the growth of one
compartment or one organ of the echinoid). Once these issues are solved, we will
have to conduct experiments on reared sea urchins to reveal underlying processes that
influence growth. Using the results of these experiments we can then elaborate an
original mathematical model that functionally describes growth of P. lividus reared in
an aquaculture system, including those underlying processes.
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