Conservation implications of demographic changes in the horse mussel Modiolus modiolus population of the inner Bay of Fundy

Author(s):  
JA Sameoto ◽  
K Hall ◽  
S Gass ◽  
D Keith ◽  
S Kirchhoff ◽  
...  
1983 ◽  
Vol 40 (S1) ◽  
pp. s309-s321 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Wildish ◽  
D. Peer

The benthic production of the lower Bay of Fundy, which has an area of 8620 km2, was estimated to be 166.7 × 104 t wet biomass in summer 1978, equivalent to an average benthic production of 193 g∙m−2∙yr−1. Over 88% of the production was by suspension feeders of which the horse mussel, Modiolus modiolus (Linnaeus, 1758), was by far the largest contributor.The geographic distribution of production of the major, soft-sediment, epi- and infaunal trophic groups in the lower Bay of Fundy was in general agreement with the hypothesis that tidal currents are a major determinant of benthic distribution and production in the lower Bay. Tidal currents control sediment dynamics, as well as settlement, growth, and feeding of benthic animals.Key words: benthos, benthic production, trophic groups, lower Bay of Fundy


2021 ◽  
Vol 252 ◽  
pp. 107294
Author(s):  
Brittany R. Wilson ◽  
Craig J. Brown ◽  
Jessica A. Sameoto ◽  
Myriam Lacharité ◽  
Anna M. Redden ◽  
...  

2008 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 569-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Cusack ◽  
D. Parkinson ◽  
A. Freer ◽  
A. Pérez-Huerta ◽  
A. E. Fallick ◽  
...  

AbstractLiving systems exert exquisite control on all aspects of biomineral production and organic components, including proteins, are essential to this biological control. The protein-rich extrapallial (EP) fluid of bivalve molluscs is a strong candidate for the source of such proteins. Differences in calcium carbonate polymorphs between Modiolus modiolus and Mytilus edulis are concurrent with differences in EP fluid protein profiles. In conjunction with this biological control is the environmental influence which is interpreted using proxies such as δ18O to determine the history of ambient seawater temperature. In the horse mussel, Modiolus modiolus, the difference in oxygen isotope fractionation in the nacreous aragonite and the prismatic aragonite layer results in respective δ18O values of 2.1±0.2% and 2.5±0.2%. These δ18O values result in estimates of ambient seawater of 12.1±0.6°C and 10.2±0.6°C for nacreous and prismatic aragonite, respectively. Electron backscatter diffraction is used here to determine the crystallographic orientation at high spatial resolution, allowing the measurements of stable isotopes to be accurately mapped in terms of shell architecture. These preliminary data suggest that it is essential to account for both polymorph and crystal habit when deciphering ambient seawater temperature using δ18O as a proxy.


2013 ◽  
Vol 113 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.A. Vaschenko ◽  
A.L. Kovaleva ◽  
I.G. Syasina ◽  
A.D. Kukhlevsky

Author(s):  
A.K. Jasim ◽  
A.R. Brand

The horse-mussel Modiolus modiolus (L.) is a bivalve molluse inhabiting coastal marine environments down to about 200 m, where it may occur in very large communities (Wiborg, 1946; Tebble, 1966; Comely, 1978). It can also be found low in the intertidal zone where it lives in rock pools or in the hold-fasts of Laminaria (Wilson, 1977; Davenport & Kjørsvik, 1982). It is a boreal species. In the Atlantic it ranges from the White Sea to the Bay of Biscay, off Iceland, the Faroes and down the east coast of North America to North Carolina. In the Pacific it occurs from the Bering Sea to Japan and California (Wiborg, 1946). Comparatively little work has been done on Modiolus modiolus, probably because it is of little commercial importance and lives predominantly subtidally in relatively inaccessible environments.


Author(s):  
W.G. Sanderson ◽  
R.H.F. Holt ◽  
L. Kay ◽  
K. Ramsay ◽  
J. Perrins ◽  
...  

The spatial heterogeneity of epifauna on a Modiolus modiolus reef off north-west Wales was investigated using divers. The community associated with these horse mussels was similar to that described previously from Loch Creran and the north basin of Strangford Lough. Some differences in epifauna may be attributable to the less sheltered nature of the site. Modiolus modiolus numbers and the associated epifaunal community were significantly different between ridge and trough sub-habitats. Troughs can be considered ‘reduced’ ridge communities whereas ridges have high densities of horse mussels and certain sessile taxa were correlated with their abundance. Modiolus modiolus aggregation as a competitive response to the feeding environment, enhanced food availability on ridges and sediment deposition amongst mussel clumps may start to explain the undulating bed-form. Patchiness in community composition and periodic cover by ophuroids has implications when considering the monitoring of the horse mussel community. Stratified, in situ recording of the highly populated ridges could improve the statistical sensitivity of monitoring horse mussel reefs whilst simultaneously focusing on the more sensitive indicators of fishing threats.


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