Inter-Research
Marine Ecology Progress Series

ABSTRACT: A commercial mussel Mytilus edulis lay was established in 1998 in western inner Swansea Bay (Wales, UK) in a shallow, sublittoral, high tidal energy environment, on a substrate which previously supported a diverse inshore, sand/muddy sand benthic community. Within a year of commencement of this fishery, a significant change in the species composition of the benthic community occurred, with a decrease in the number of species and in the total number of individuals. The abundance of carnivorous and deposit feeding benthic species increased, whilst the mussels out-competed other benthic filter feeding organisms, preventing the settlement of these organisms by ingestion of the larvae, and removed other benthic organisms by physical smothering.

KEY WORDS: Mussel lay · Benthos · Community effects · Coastal waters

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Published in MEPS Vol. 282 (2004) on November 16
Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599. Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2004