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Bioseston production by Mytilus edulis and its effect in experimental systems

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Abstract

Mytilus edulis L. (Bivalvia: Mollusca) can produce appreciable quantities of 3.4 to 5.4 μm diameter bioseston, when previously fed on Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Tetraselmis suecica. Bioseston production, observed in flowing filtered sea water, is shown to originate from resuspension of faeces and can cause filtration-rate underestimates of up to 35% under certain experimental conditions. Feeding with Thalassiosira pseudonana below a concentration of 4x107 particles l-1 caused no significant bioseston production and this alga would, therefore, be suitable for use in quantitative estimates of filtration rate.

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  1. D. I. Hildreth

    Present address: , 245 Bush Street, No. 3, 94041, Mouncain View, California, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, B3H 4J1, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

    D. I. Hildreth

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  1. D. I. Hildreth
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Communicated by T. Platt, Dartmouth

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Hildreth, D.I. Bioseston production by Mytilus edulis and its effect in experimental systems. Mar. Biol. 55, 309–315 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393783

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393783

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