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Influence of wave exposure on South African mussel beds and their associated infaunal communities

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Abstract

This study investigates effects of wave exposure on beds of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis and the infaunal communities associated with them. Nine sites of varying wave exposure were sampled near Groenrivier, on the west coast of South Africa. Wave exposure was measured using a Palumbi device, and exposure ranged from 7.17×103 to 18.49×103 N m−2. Percentage mussel cover at each site was measured using 50×50 cm quadrats, and three 10×10 cm samples were removed from the mussel beds in the mid-intertidal zones of each site for examination of infauna. Percentage mussel cover, mean mussel length, mussel biomass and mussel bed depth all peaked at intermediate exposures, declining towards both the most sheltered and most exposed sites. Infaunal species diversity and richness both showed the reverse trend, peaking at the most sheltered and most exposed sites, and declining at intermediate exposures. Neither infaunal abundance, nor biomass, was significantly correlated to wave exposure, although abundance was highest at sheltered sites and biomass greatest at the most exposed site, which was dominated by limpets and large robust polychaetes.

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Acknowledgements

This study was made possible by funding from the Sea and Coast II Programme—a joint venture between the South African Foundation for Research and Development and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. Special thanks to N. Steffani for sharing her wave-exposure data with us, without which this study would not have been possible.

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  1. Marine Biology Research Institute and Zoology Department, University of Cape Town, 7700, Rondebosch, South Africa

    W. Hammond & C. L. Griffiths

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  1. W. Hammond
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  2. C. L. Griffiths
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Correspondence to C. L. Griffiths.

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Communicated by J.P. Thorpe, Port Erin

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Hammond, W., Griffiths, C.L. Influence of wave exposure on South African mussel beds and their associated infaunal communities. Marine Biology 144, 547–552 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-003-1210-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-003-1210-9

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