Utilisation of bacteria as nitrogen resource by kelp-bed mussel Choromytilus meridionalis
- 1 January 1984
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Inter-Research Science Center in Marine Ecology Progress Series
- Vol. 15 (1-2) , 109-116
- https://doi.org/10.3354/meps015109
Abstract
The crystalline style of C. meridionalis Krauss contains a bacteriolytic enzyme capable of lysing the majority of free-living bacteria in the adjacent water column. Estimates of the C:N ratio (3.7:1) of free-living bacteria, and of the filtration capabilities of the mussels, indicate that bacteria could meet the N requirements of the mussels. The bacteriolytic agent in the style is subject to considerable adaptive changes in activity, correlated with water temperature. Water temperatures < 10.degree. C are associated with induction of the bacteriolytic agent. During upwelling, cold water depleted in particulate matter but containing significant numbers of bacteria occurs commonly among the kelp beds. Low water temperature (or an associated environmental parameter) results in stimulation of bacteriolysis. This in turn permits efficient use by the mussel of free-living bacteria which compensate for the depletion of phytoplankton available in the water column.Keywords
This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- Filtration, Repiration and Assimilation in the Black Mussel Choromytilus meridionalisMarine Ecology Progress Series, 1980