Inter-Research > MEPS > v346 > p189-201  
MEPS
Marine Ecology Progress Series

via Mailchimp

MEPS 346:189-201 (2007)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07007

Abundance, growth and recruitment of Mytilus galloprovincialis on the west coast of South Africa in relation to upwelling

Bárbara M. Xavier1,2, George M. Branch2,*, Evie Wieters2

1Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
2Marine Biology Research Institute and Zoology Department, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
*Corresponding author. Email:

ABSTRACT: Upwelling has the potential to influence the structure of intertidal populations and communities by enhancing productivity and thereby food supplies, and by influencing the transport and abundance of propagules. We investigated alongshore variability in Mytilus galloprovincialis populations in relation to upwelling intensity at 11 sites spread across ~1000 km of the west coast of South Africa. Mussels grew faster at upwelling centres than at downstream sites characterized by weaker upwelling, presumably due to greater availability of food supply provided by organic material from nearshore subtidal kelp beds and/or phytoplankton. Maximum sizes reached by mussels were correlated with growth rate. Large among-site variability existed in mussel recruitment, density, percentage cover, biomass, mean size, condition and shell thickness. However, contrary to predictions of bottom-up regulation, none of these differences were consistent with differences in upwelling intensity. High growth rates did not, therefore, influence local population structure. In general, where densities were low, mean size was larger and shells were thinner. This implies that although upwelling influences growth rate and maximum size of M. galloprovincialis, these effects are overridden by other factors such as recruitment and intraspecific competition so that fast growth does not translate into greater abundance, biomass, cover or improved condition at upwelling sites.


KEY WORDS: Alien species · Mytilus galloprovincialis · Mussels · Nearshore oceanography · Rocky intertidal · South Africa · Upwelling


Full text in pdf format
Cite this article as: Xavier BM, Branch GM, Wieters E (2007) Abundance, growth and recruitment of Mytilus galloprovincialis on the west coast of South Africa in relation to upwelling. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 346:189-201. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07007

Export citation
Share:    Facebook - - linkedIn

 Previous article Next article