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Seasonal disturbance to mussel beds: Field test of a mechanistic model predicting wave dislodgment
Author(s) -
Carrington Emily,
Moeser Gretchen M.,
Dimond James,
Mello Joseph J.,
Boller Michael L.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.2009.54.3.0978
Subject(s) - mussel , intertidal zone , disturbance (geology) , temperate climate , environmental science , rocky shore , shore , ecology , oceanography , climatology , atmospheric sciences , geology , biology , geomorphology
We report the first field confirmation of a mechanistic model predicting fine‐scale temporal dynamics of wave dislodgment, an important disturbance process structuring many temperate rocky intertidal communities. A biomechanical approach is used to predict the frequency and severity of mussel dislodgment from wave‐swept shores in Rhode Island over a 3‐yr period. Using inputs of wave height and mussel attachment, the model correctly predicts strong dislodgment events during hurricane season (August to October, ~10% monthly loss), a period when large waves coincide with relatively weak mussel attachment. Such a mechanistic approach, incorporating temporal variation in both environmental challenges and physiological tolerances, is necessary to predict patterns of environmental stress; such predictions cannot be made from environmental forecasts alone. In addition to wave dislodgment, we report substantial mussel mortality due to temperature stress (up to 50% monthly loss). These two physical agents, which caused equivalent mussel mortality in our 3‐yr study, are likely to be influenced by future global climate shifts.