Abstract
In September 1988 a mussel bed, with a biomass of 1362 g ash-free dry weight· m −2, was created in a concrete tank with a continuous supply of natural seawater. Measurements of particulate matter uptake by the mussel bed were carried out monthly from December 1988 till December 1989. Fluxes of suspended particulate matter, particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate organic nitrogen (PON), particulate organic phosphorus (POP) and chlorophyll- a, were significantly correlated with water column concentrations. A control experiment showed that sedimentation did not affect observed fluxes. Clearance rates of the mussel bed varied between 0.4 and 2.7 m 3·m −2·h −1. Seasonal variation in the filtration activity of the mussel bed could be attributed to changes in the composition of the suspended particulate matter: individual clearance rates of the mussels were reduced in the period April–June, which coincided with a bloom of Phaeocystis sp. Moreover, clearance rates decreased with increasing SPM concentrations and showed a positive correlation with chlorophyll- a.
Published Version
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