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Journal Molluscan Studies Advance Access originally published online on January 8, 2008
Journal of Molluscan Studies 2008 74(1):75-78; doi:10.1093/mollus/eym046
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© The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Malacological Society of London, all rights reserved

Do mussel patches provide a refuge for algae from grazing gastropods?

Nessa E. O'Connor1,2,3, and Tasman P. Crowe1

1School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre West, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland; 2Department of Zoology, Ecology and Plant Science, University College Cork, Distillery Fields, Cork, Ireland; and 3Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Lee Road, Cork, Ireland

Correspondence: N.E. O'Connor; e-mail: n.oconnor{at}ucc.ie


  Abstract

On rocky shores, cover of macroalgae is often greater growing epibiotically on mussels compared to algae growing directly attached to rock. A survey of two shores on the east coast of Ireland confirmed that mussel beds contained greater percentage algal cover and more diverse algal assemblages compared to those on rock. The reasons for this difference are not clear. It has been suggested that mussel beds provide a refuge for algae from grazing gastropods. Surprisingly, we found no evidence to support this. Using wax discs, gastropod grazing patterns were found to be similar within the mussel beds as on rock. The mussel beds do not appear to provide a refuge for algae from grazing activity at this scale and we suggest other possible mechanisms for the prevalence of epibiotic algal cover on mussels. Intertidal grazers may in fact affect the epibiotic algae on mussels and thereby affect indirectly the persistence of mussel beds.

(Received 14 May 2007; accepted 20 October 2007)


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