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SUMMARY:Duckweed production at an IMTA system in Ireland
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260929T155500Z
DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260929T161500Z
DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260917T004448Z
UID:indico-contribution-2957@cern.ch
DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Clair Margot (University College Cork)\nIntegrated M
 ulti-Trophic Aquaculture is an aquaculture system in which extractive spec
 ies (algae\, aquatic plants\, bivalves\, etc.) recycle the waste produced 
 by fed species (fish\, shrimp\, etc.). By integrating organisms from diffe
 rent trophic levels\, IMTA reduces the potential environmental impacts of 
 aquaculture and improves the sustainability and economic value of producti
 on systems.\n\nThe CIRCULAR-IMTA-DEMO pilot site at Mount Lucas\, County O
 ffaly\, Ireland\, comprises an IMTA farm producing 30 tonnes of rainbow tr
 out in four split-ponds. Fish effluents are directed into 16 channels (12\
 ,800 m²) where duckweed is cultivated. Duckweed removes nutrients\, impro
 ving water quality for recirculation while producing valuable biomass. The
  main duckweed species are *Lemna minor* “Blarney” and *Lemna gibba* 
 “Keywater”\, together with a spontaneous hybrid.\n\nStudies conducted 
 in 2019 and 2020 estimated a production potential of 35–48 t yr⁻¹ of 
 dry duckweed biomass (Paolacci et al.\, 2022). However\, productivity rema
 ins dependent on environmental conditions\, including fish density and fee
 ding regime\, which determine waste production.\n\nFollowing six years of 
 inactivity\, the site has restarted and has undergone structural changes. 
 Vegetation has expanded within and around the channels\, providing shelter
  and shade. However\, the invasive aquatic plant *Elodea nuttallii* remain
 s a problem\, competing for nutrients. A diverse fauna\, including swans\,
  herons\, amphibians and insects\, has become established. Swans consume l
 arge amounts of duckweed\, prompting the construction of exclusion zones. 
 In addition\, heatwave events in July 2026 caused changes in water physico
 chemical properties\, affecting trout and duckweed production. Our work ai
 ms to identify management strategies to maintain duckweed growth under var
 ying conditions\n\nhttps://indico.unina.it/event/117/contributions/2957/
LOCATION: Sala Monumentini
URL:https://indico.unina.it/event/117/contributions/2957/
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