Impact of fouling organisms on mussel rope culture: interspecific competition for food among suspension-feeding invertebrates (original) (raw)

The clearance rate of natural planktonic assemblages was measured for the blue mussel Mytilus edulis (L.) and a co-occurring fouling community from mussel rope cultures using flow cytometry. Blue mussels had significantly higher clearance rates for ail particle types and size classes. In addition, blue mussels showed selective feeding in favor of small phytopl~kton (3-5 pm), whereas the solitary ascidian Ciona jntes~a~~ (L.) and the suspension-f~d~g gastropod Crep~dula fomicata (L.) showed preferential selection for large phytopl~~on (> 16 ym). Clearance rates for large ph~opI~kton by these members of the fouling community were, however, always lower than blue musseIs. Under conditions where food is not a limiting factor, interspecific competition for food by the associated fouling community should not significantly limit the yield of mussels.