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Secondary production of an intertidal mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) population in the Eastern Scheldt (S.W. Netherlands)
Craeymeersch, J.A.; Herman, P.M.J.; Meire, P.M. (1986). Secondary production of an intertidal mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) population in the Eastern Scheldt (S.W. Netherlands). Hydrobiologia 133: 107-115
In: Hydrobiologia. Springer: The Hague. ISSN 0018-8158; e-ISSN 1573-5117, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Audiovisual materials > Graphics > Graphs > Growth curves
    Biological production > Secondary production
    Characteristics > Productivity
    Growth rate
    Interspecific relationships > Predation
    Population characteristics > Biomass
    Population characteristics > Population density
    Production rate > Productivity
    Productivity
    Mytilus edulis Linnaeus, 1758 [WoRMS]
    ANE, Netherlands, Oosterschelde [Marine Regions]
    Marine/Coastal; Brackish water
Author keywords
    Benthic; Intertidal; Intertidaal

Authors  Top 
  • Craeymeersch, J.A., more
  • Herman, P.M.J., more
  • Meire, P.M., more

Abstract
    We monitored an intertidal mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) population between June 1981 and June 1982 in the Eastern Scheldt estuary (S.W. Netherlands). Density and biomass of the population remained relatively constant over the study period. The shell length growth was described by a Gompertz growth curve. The parameters of this equation were estimated from a log-log-modified Ford-Walford plot of the growth-ring data. The slope of the relationship between animal weight and shell length is season-dependent, mainly due to the spawning cycle in larger mussels.Secondary production is estimated with the growth rate method. In the calculated growth rates the change in slope of the weight relationship is incorporated, as well as differences in length growth rates between summer and winter. Secondary production amounts to 156 g AFDW m-2a-1 (expressed per m² of mussel bank). P:B is 0.50 a-1 . The mussel productivity is probably a limiting factor for the density of overwintering oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus).

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