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Within‐ and between‐patch variability of predation intensity on the mussel Mytilus trossulus Gould on a rocky intertidal shore in Oregon, USA
Author(s) -
Noda Takashi
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
ecological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.628
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1440-1703
pISSN - 0912-3814
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1703.1999.00293.x
Subject(s) - predation , intertidal zone , rocky shore , mussel , biology , ecology , nucella , intertidal ecology , invertebrate , seabed gouging by ice , foundation species , habitat , ecosystem engineer , fishery , arctic , drift ice , arctic ice pack
Variability of predation intensity is an important cause of spatial differences of community structure and organization in the intertidal rocky shore. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the within‐ and between‐patch variability of the effects of different types of predators (small invertebrates and birds) on Mytilus trossulus Gould, which occupies an intermediate position in the competitive hierarchy among sessile organisms in disturbance patches within a California mussel ( Mytilus californianus Conrad) bed community on the central Oregon Coast. Predation by birds did not significantly affect the mortality of M. trossulus . On the contrary, predation by small invertebrate whelks ( Nucella spp.) had a significant effect on M. trossulus mortality. Predation by whelks also caused between‐ and within‐patch variability of mortality of M. trossulus . Within patches, M. trossulus mortality at patch margins was significantly higher than at patch centers only when invertebrate predators were present. Wave exposure did not cause between‐patch variability of predation intensity. Between‐and within‐patch variability of predation intensity may be caused by the variability of supply of whelks from the surrounding mussel mat. The movement of predators between patches and surrounding matrices may play an important role in the patch dynamics of these communities.