Adductor muscle size in Danish and British mussels and its relation to starfish predation

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Abstract
Samples of Danish and British mussels (Mytillls edulis L.) have been compared for shell dimensions, meat content and adductor muscle size. In the samples examined, Danish mussels possessed larger adductor muscles than British mussels of the same shell length. There was no obvious relationship between adductor muscle size and shell shape, meat content or age. In laboratory experiments, the rate of feeding by starfish (Asterias rubens L.) on British mussels was consistently higher than on Danish mussels. It is suggested that Danish mussels were more difficult for starfish to open, though the possibility of a lower chemical attraction cannot be dismissed.

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