Effects of a commercial mussel Mytilus edulis lay on a sublittoral, soft sediment benthic community

Abstract

A commercial mussel Mytilus edulis lay was established in 1998 in western inner Swansea Bay (Wales, UK) in a shallow, sublittoral, high tidal energy environment, on a substrate which previously supported a diverse inshore, sand/muddy sand benthic community. Within a year of commencement of this fishery, a significant change in the species composition of the benthic community occurred, with a decrease in the number of species and in the total number of individuals. The abundance of carnivorous and deposit feeding benthic species increased, whilst the mussels outcompeted other benthic filter feeding organisms, preventing the settlement of these organisms by ingestion of the larvae, and removed other benthic organisms by physical smothering.