Growth, Mortality, and Secondary Production in Natural Populations of the Blue Mussel, <i>Mytilus edulis</i>

Abstract

Juveniles (17–26 mm) from 11 natural populations of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis were each transplanted to nine sites along the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. Production was determined from the growth and mortality profiles of each stock over the period from November 1985 to December 1986. Stock and stock by season explained 26.6% of the variance in production whereas site and site by season accounted for 24.1%. Stock and its interactions explained most of the variance in mortality, while site and its interactions were more important in explaining the variance in growth. Growth, rather than mortality, was the primary determinant of production.