Byssus-thread formation by the mussel Mytilus edulis: effects of environmental factors

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Abstract
Temperature, excision, salinity, tidal regime, and seasonality all affected byssus production in the mussel M. edulis L.; the most influential factor studied was agitation. Mussels agitated every 4.5 s produce 15.8 threads individual-1 day-1, a rate twice that stimulated by any of the other factors. An acclimation period of up to 2 wk was required for byssus-thread formation to return to that of control mussels after exposure to high temperatures, low salinities and rapid agitation. Byssus-thread production during experiments was neither random nor steady, but rather in response to a number of contributing factors, the relative importance of which will ultimately depend on the environment in which the mussel is found.