Mass and metabolism of a mussel bed

Authors

Scott W. Nixon, University of Rhode Island
Candace A. Oviatt, University of Rhode Island
Caroline Rogers, University of Rhode Island
Kenneth Taylor, University of Rhode Island

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

3-1-1971

Abstract

A mussel bed dominated by Mytilus edulis contained large concentrations of living consumer biomass, with over 14 kg dry weight/m2 distributed among eleven species. An additional 14.4 kg dry weight/m2 was present as empty shell fragments that contributed to community structure. Field measurements of community respiration for this dense animal system showed a roughly hyperbolic response to increasing current speed. In still water, oxygen uptake was 0.2g O2/m2/hr while in currents over 0.1 m/sec it quickly rose to about 2.7 g O2/m2/hr. © 1971 Springer-Verlag.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Oecologia

Volume

8

Issue

1

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Nixon, Scott W., Candace A. Oviatt, Caroline Rogers, and Kenneth Taylor. "Mass and metabolism of a mussel bed." Oecologia 8, 1 (1971). doi: 10.1007/BF00345624.