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Habitat structure and complexity as determinants of biodiversity in blue mussel beds on sublittoral rocky shores

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Abstract

Habitat-forming, ecosystem engineer species are common in most marine systems. Still, much uncertainty exists about how individual and population-level traits of these species contribute to ecosystem processes and how engineering species jointly affect biodiversity. In this manipulative field experiment, we examined how biodiversity in marginal blue mussel beds is affected by blue mussel (1) body size, density and patch context and (2) presence of fucoid and algal structures. In the study area, bladder-wrack (Fucus vesiculosus), filamentous algae and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) coexist at shallow depths in a variety of patch configurations and offer complex habitats with a high variability of resources. We hypothesized that complexity in terms of mussel bed structure and algal presence determines species composition and abundance. Results from the experiment were compared with macrofaunal communities found in natural populations of both engineering species. Results show that the physical structure and blue mussel patch context are important determinants for species composition and abundance. Results further show that the presence of algal structures positively affects diversity in blue mussel habitats due to increased surface availability and complexity that these algae offer. This study shows that blue mussel beds at the very margin of their distribution have an indisputable function for promoting and maintaining biodiversity and suggest that facilitative effects of habitat-modifying species are important on Baltic Sea rocky shores with fundamental importance to community structure.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the staff at Tvärminne Zoological Station for all the help with equipment, material and accommodation. This research is part of M.K’s PhD project supported by Onni Talaan Säätiö. Walter and Andree de Nottbeck Foundation (M.K, M.W) and the Academy of Finland (project nr 126831, M.W) are acknowledged for financial support. The contribution of two anonymous reviewers clarifying a previous draft and of two additional reviewers for a revised version is highly appreciated. The study complies with current laws in Finland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tvärminne Zoological Station, Helsinki University, J.A. Palménsväg 260, 10900, Hangö, Finland

    Maria Elisabet Koivisto & Mats Westerbom

  2. Department of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Aquatic Sciences, Helsinki University, PB 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Maria Elisabet Koivisto

  3. Metsähallitus, Natural Heritage Services, P.O. Box 94, 01301, Vantaa, Finland

    Mats Westerbom

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  1. Maria Elisabet Koivisto
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  2. Mats Westerbom
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Correspondence to Maria Elisabet Koivisto.

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Communicated by P. Kraufvelin.

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Koivisto, M.E., Westerbom, M. Habitat structure and complexity as determinants of biodiversity in blue mussel beds on sublittoral rocky shores. Mar Biol 157, 1463–1474 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-010-1421-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-010-1421-9

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