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From uniformity to multiplicity: development of a sub-arctic Littoral Mussel Bed in the Sea of Okhotsk

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Abstract

Mussel beds are common in many intertidal and subtidal habitats, including sub-Arctic and Arctic regions. Despite their ecological importance, little is known about the demographic processes governing the development of mussel beds and particularly about the synchronization of these processes at different spatial scales. The development of a relatively compact, narrow littoral mussel bed of Mytilus trossulus, extending several hundred m along the shore of Koni Peninsula (Tauyskaya Bay, northern Sea of Okhotsk), was studied for four years during the period 2014–2017. This model bed was located along an exposed coast with a seasonal sea ice cover. It was used to test the hypothesis that small-scale synchronization exists, i.e., the changes in demographic structure of the population that occur simultaneously within a single mussel bed follow a similar pattern. This hypothesis was rejected. The size structure of the mussel population at the same tidal level changed from being uniform (2014) to being varied in 2015–2017. The course of development of the mussel population was different at the opposite ends of the bed. The cause of these differences may be unequal levels of recruitment of juveniles in the form of a gradient from one end of the bed to the other over the length of the bed. The gradient was associated with transition from one type of shore dynamic processes to another (accumulation vs. abrasion). Small-scale desynchronization may represent one of the reasons explaining the heterogeneity of mussel populations. The possibility of desynchronization of demographic processes should be taken into consideration when studying the spatial organization and dynamics of mussel beds.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Alice Lagnado for editing the English language of our manuscript. The authors also express profound gratitude to the administration (director Yury Berezhnoi, deputy directors Irina Utekhina and Andrei Kotyukh) and staff of the Magadan Nature Reserve for providing the opportunity to conduct this study, and their constant and invaluable assistance with the field work. This work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research [Grant Numbers 14-04-10159, 13-04-01127]; Program of the field studies for bachelor and master studies of the Perm National Research University in 2014 and 2016; Basic research funds of the Magadan State Nature Reserve; and State Task [Reg. Number AAAA-A19-119022690122-5].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoological Institute RAS, Universitetskaya Nab.,1, St. Petersburg, Russia, 199034

    Vyacheslav V. Khalaman

  2. Magadan State Nature Reserve, Magadan, Russia, 685000

    Alena D. Trunova & Nikolay N. Tridrikh

  3. Institute of Biological Problems of the North, Far East Branch, RAS, Magadan, Russia, 685000

    Vyacheslav S. Zharnikov

  4. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology RAS, Moscow, Russia, 117997

    Vassily A. Spiridonov

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  1. Vyacheslav V. Khalaman
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  2. Alena D. Trunova
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  4. Vyacheslav S. Zharnikov
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Correspondence to Vyacheslav V. Khalaman.

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Khalaman, V.V., Trunova, A.D., Tridrikh, N.N. et al. From uniformity to multiplicity: development of a sub-arctic Littoral Mussel Bed in the Sea of Okhotsk. Polar Biol 43, 1341–1352 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-020-02712-4

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