The use of artificial substrates in monitoring mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) settlement on an exposed rocky shore in the west of Ireland

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Artificial substrates were used to monitor Mytilus edulis L. settlement on an exposed rocky shore at Ballynahown, on the west coast of Ireland, from August 1984 to September 1985. Flat nylon domestic pan scourers proved to be good collectors of mussel recruits. The appearance of new modes of 300 µn shell length at times of increasing density of colonising mussels indicated direct settlement of mussel larvae from the plankton onto the pads. These modes appeared in September 1984, May 1985 and August 1985. Direct settlement periods followed the known main spawning times of adult mussels at the study site, March-April and July-August, and are consistent with settlement times ob-served on filamentous algae and adult beds on the same shore. Results from the study show that mussels of primary settlement size, 250–400 im shell length, were available to colonise newly deployed pads throughout the investigation. Furthermore, cohorts of larger mussels recruited to the pads during much of the year. The possible source of these recruiting mussels is discussed.