Mating mussels
In 2007, students from Queen Charlotte College in Picton found out what makes a 'good' mussel and how breeding programmes are changing.
The Cawthron Institute in Nelson has an extensive mussel breeding programme. The aim is to grow mussel families with enhanced characteristics for New Zealand’s aquaculture industry.
Year 10 students Sarah, Joe, Maxine, Michael and Cloe, and Year 12 students Gina and Jessica, with their teacher from Queen Charlotte College, Dr John Whitehead, met with some of the scientists involved in the work.
Not only did they find out more about cryopreservation and what baby mussels look like, but they also worked with a professional filmmaker to capture it all on video and then edit it for publication on the Hub.
Mussel breeding at Cawthron
Breeding mussels to have 'better' characteristics is very similar to breeding cattle or pumpkins — but what makes one mussel 'better' than another?
Mussels are not all equal
Some mussels respond better in particular environments. Does this mean you need to breed for particular environments?
Marking mussels
How do scientists know which mussel is which? And why is this so important?
Collecting mussel data
A whole lot of information about mussel health and behaviour can be collected without expensive equipment. So what are scientists looking for?
Mussel genetics
How can information about genetics help speed up the mussel breeding programme at the Cawthron Institute?
Cryopreservation helps shellfish breeders
Have a ready source of eggs and sperms from known parental lines means that all sorts of genetic combinations can be made possible. Why do Nick and Serian find this exciting?
Gourmet algae
Keeping baby mussels growing healthily requires a special kind of aquaculture chef.
Careers: Follow your dreams
Nick started off in marine science, took a detour via forestry, and now is back in marine science. Why does he think this has worked out well?
Careers: A bit of everything
What jobs might Ellie do on a typical day?
Careers: Cryopreservation
What does Serian like best about being a scientist?
