Abstract
Bivalve suspension-feeders are considered to be keystone herbivores in many estuarine ecosystems. However, bivalves can also feed upon organisms that belong to the microzooplankton and on mesozooplankton. Laboratory experiments showed that nauplii of the copepod Temora longicornis were filtered by mussels at the same rate as algae. Adult T. longicornis were also susceptible to filtration by mussels and oysters, but at a lower rate. Mesocosm experiments compared plankton dynamics in systems with and without mussels. Biomass of diatoms, heterotrophic dinoflagellates and copepods was strongly reduced in the presence of mussels. Some components of the microbial food web, like ciliates and Phaeocystis, did not show a significant effect, due to cascading effects of declining copepod abundance. It is suggested that in the presence of mussels, the pelagic food web may be shifted towards a more dominant microbial food web.
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