Article
Environmental Sciences
Monica M. Moritsch
Summary: Mass mortality of the keystone predator Pisaster ochraceus from Sea Star Wasting Syndrome led to significant changes in the rocky intertidal ecosystems in central California, including the downward shift of mussel bed boundaries toward water and changes in total area. The changes in mussel beds were positively correlated with mussel recruitment, but were not correlated with pre-disease sea star density or biomass.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cory Elowe, Lars Tomanek
Summary: By simulating tidal environments, a study investigated the changes in protein abundance in the gill tissue of an intertidal mussel; approximately 38% of detected proteins exhibited significant rhythmic abundances, with the circadian rhythm playing a dominant role in protein abundance changes. Additionally, the research revealed the importance of tidal environments in entraining cellular processes, suggesting that differential expression studies should not assume a static baseline of cellular conditions in intertidal organisms.
Article
Ecology
C. Melissa Miner, Jennifer L. Burnaford, Karah Ammann, Benjamin H. Becker, Steven C. Fradkin, Stacey Ostermann-Kelm, Jayson R. Smith, Stephen G. Whitaker, Peter T. Raimondi
Summary: This study examines the long-term stability of rocky intertidal communities along the west coast of North America using a multivariate similarity approach. It found an inverse relationship between community stability and elevated water temperatures, with lower stability in the south region. Community stability was linked to high species richness and low evenness at the site level.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mats Westerbom, Maria Koivisto
Summary: Understanding the influence of biogenic habitats on species assemblage structure and ecosystem productivity is crucial for conservation. In this study, the authors compared two dominant habitats, brown algae and blue mussels, in the northern Baltic Proper and found that while both habitats are species rich, the blue mussel habitat has higher abundance and biomass, indicating a higher secondary production. Recognizing key habitats and their role in supporting biodiversity and ecosystem productivity is important for predicting community responses to human pressures and implementing effective mitigation actions.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Ralph J. M. Temmink, Gregory S. Fivash, Laura L. Govers, Janne Nauta, Beatriz Marin-Diaz, Peter M. J. M. Cruijsen, Karin Didderen, Emma Penning, Han Olff, Jannes H. T. Heusinkveld, Leon P. M. Lamers, Wouter Lengkeek, Marjolijn J. A. Christianen, Valerie C. Reijers, Tjeerd J. Bouma, Tjisse van der Heide
Summary: Coastal ecosystems worldwide are degrading rapidly, prompting a new life cycle informed restoration approach to be tested on a large scale using blue mussel reefs as a model. Results showed that temporary use of biodegradable structures successfully enhanced mussel biomass formation, but technical challenges were encountered at larger scales, emphasizing the need for testing under extreme conditions before upscaling.
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Timothy I. I. Baxter, Martin A. A. Coombes, Heather A. A. Viles
Summary: This study examines the potential role of blue mussels as biogeomorphic agents in the weathering and erosion processes of rocky coasts. The results show that mussel beds can reduce the surface temperature and hardness of rocks, resulting in a decrease in rock breakdown efficiency and turbulence. Although the effects of mussels are relatively small compared to other species, their dominance at certain tidal heights makes them locally important geomorphic agents in rocky shores.
Article
Ecology
Eliseo Fica-Rojas, Alexis M. Catalan, Bernardo R. Broitman, Alejandro Perez-Matus, Nelson Valdivia
Summary: Ecological stability depends on interactions between different levels of biological organization. Insurance effects occur when increasing species diversity leads to more stable community-level properties. This study investigates how species richness and population-level parameters influence community invariability.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Alexander T. Neu, Eric E. Allen, Kaustuv Roy
Summary: This study examines the latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) on the gill and shell-surface microbiomes of the marine bivalve Mytilus californianus. The results show differing diversity patterns in the microbiota of gill and shell surfaces, with individual microbial clades exhibiting different latitudinal trends likely due to varying ecologies and life histories. The study suggests that the diversity decline with increasing latitude may not be a universal pattern across different domains of life.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Antonio J. Perea, Thorsten Wiegand, Jose L. Garrido, Pedro J. Rey, Julio M. Alcantara
Summary: This study used point pattern analysis to examine the spatial phylogenetic and phenotypic structures of plant communities at different stages. The results showed that there were different patterns between saplings and adult plants, with adult plants exhibiting phylogenetic clustering. There were also differences in neighbor composition between species at different stages. The findings highlight the importance of ontogenetic shifts in plant community assembly processes.
Article
Biology
Nicole E. Moyen, George N. Somero, Mark W. Denny
Summary: Thermal performance curves are commonly used to study the effects of heat acclimation on animals, but may not accurately predict survival in the field. In intertidal mussels, cardiac thermal performance tests show changes in critical temperature and flatline temperature after heat acclimation, but further research is needed to understand their role in thermal acclimation.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Rosyta Andriana, Friederike G. Engel, Joao B. Gusmao, Britas Klemens Eriksson
Summary: The study found that constructing small shellfish reefs in intertidal areas can alter the composition of diatom communities in biofilms, promoting the growth of smaller cells and species. These small diatoms have higher growth and photosynthesis rates, which explain the higher production and chlorophyll-a concentration in biofilms on natural intertidal shellfish reefs. The results indicate that shellfish reefs play a significant role in biofilm functioning.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Hamidreza Iranpour, Seyed Nezamedin Hosseini, Hani Hosseini Far, Sareh Zhand, Mahdi Mohammadi Ghanbarlu, Hosein Shahsavarani, Saeid Bouzari, Mohammad Ali Shokrgozar
Summary: A new recombinant fusion protein was reported in this study, showing significantly increased adhesion forces especially in alkaline environments. These proteins self-assembled into beta-sheet rich fibers and exhibited tolerance to auto-oxidation, suggesting their potential as sturdy underwater adhesives.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADHESION AND ADHESIVES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Veronica Padilla Vriesman, Sandra J. Carlson, Tessa M. Hill
Summary: This study analyzed the shells of California mussel and identified three mineralogical layers within the shell, with California mussel being the only Mytilus species to precipitate a secondary calcite layer. The research found that the light bands within the inner calcite layer are strongly correlated with winter collection months, indicating periods with moderate, stable temperatures and minimal upwelling. Additionally, the study showed that modern shells have thinner inner calcite layers and less well-defined growth bands compared to archival shells, suggesting a difference in calcification rate over the past 20 years.
Article
Ecology
Maria Bagur, Jorge L. L. Gutierrez, Juliana A. A. Gonzalez, Lorena P. P. Arribas, M. Gabriela Palomo
Summary: The lower limits of rocky shore species' vertical distribution have historically been attributed to biotic factors, but this study suggests that physical forces, such as wave energy and sediment scour, may also play a role. By examining a horizontal shore platform in Argentinean Patagonia, the researchers found that the harsh physical conditions at the lower platform, characterized by higher water motion and abrasion, result in bare surfaces and lower mussel bed limits. These findings suggest that current models of species zonation in rocky intertidal shores may need to be expanded or refined to incorporate horizontal platform species zonation limits.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Lindsey R. Leighton, Carrie L. Tyler
Summary: The study looked at the interaction between two predators and one prey system in the marine rocky intertidal of the northeastern Pacific. They found that temperature and the interactive effects of predator species had the greatest impact on prey mortality. This suggests that seasonal shifts in predator identity and predation rates on mussels may occur, which could be further explored in future field studies.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY
(2021)