Feeding reduction, reproductive failure, and mortality in Mytilus edulis during the 1985 'brown tide' in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island
- 1 January 1988
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Inter-Research Science Center in Marine Ecology Progress Series
- Vol. 50 (1-2) , 73-81
- https://doi.org/10.3354/meps050073
Abstract
During summer 1985, reduced feeding, reproductive failure and massive mortalities were observed in populations of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis during an extremely dense algal bloom (106 cells ml-1) in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island (USA). The dominant alga was an extremely small (1 to 2 .mu.m diameter) non-flagellated chrysophycean form previously unobserved in coastal or offshore waters. Effects of the alga on clearance rates of muscels were tested using natural particulates (NBP) collected from Narragansett Bay during the bloom. Reductions in clearance rate were independent of cell size and extra-cellular exudates of the bloom alga. Experiments repeated with the hard shell clam Mercenaria mercenaria produced similar clearance rate responses. In examining density-dependent effects, NBP concentrations below 2.5 .times. 105 particles ml-1 allowed normal clearance of a food alga (Isochrysis galbana) and NBP, while significant reductions in the clearance of food algae were observed at NBP concentrations above 5.0 .times. 105 particles ml-1. In Narragansett Bay, NBP densities increased from 9 .times. 105 cells ml-1 at seaward stations to above 15 .times. 105 cells ml-1 in the upper bay. High mortality in indigeous mussels was coincident with peak bloom conditions, varying from 30 to 100% at stations along the main axis of the bay. In addition, complete reproductive failure of the population was apparent. This effect could not otherwise be explained by environmental conditions of temperature, salinity or dissolved oxygen concentration. It is concluded that starvation stress induced by noxious properties of the bloom alga in combination with seasonal effects (reproductive stage, temperature) was the cause of the demise of M. edulis.This publication has 21 references indexed in Scilit:
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