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Ecology Summary - Mytilus californianus
SeaLifeBase
Ecology of Mytilus californianus
 
Main Ref. Gallivan, G. and J. Danforth, 1999
Remarks Found in dense colonies on wharf piles and surf exposed rocks in the mid to high tide zone. Its diet include fine organic detritus, living plankton, especially dinoflagellates; when the water exceeds a certain temperature, often from late May through October, mussels feed on dinoflagellates that make them poisonous for humans to eat (Ref. 312). Very dominant competitor in an intertidal bed. Prefers to settle on other mussels and barnacles, giving it a competitive advantage (Ref. 104225). Predators are ochre star, dogwinkle, and humans (Ref. 312). Occurs from mid to high tide mark (Ref. 312).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Marine - Neritic Marine - Oceanic Brackishwater Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies
  • supra-littoral zone
  • littoral zone
  • sublittoral zone
  • epipelagic
  • mesopelagic
  • epipelagic
  • abyssopelagic
  • hadopelagic
  • estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas
  • mangroves
  • marshes/swamps
  • rivers/streams
  • lakes/ponds
  • caves
  • exclusively in caves
Highighted items on the list are where Mytilus californianus may be found.

Habitat

Substrate Benthic: sessile; Hard Bottom: rocky;
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats Beds: rock; Other habitats: seamounts; pilings;
Special habitats Ref. Harbo, R.M., 1997

Associations

Ref. Harbo, R.M., 1997
Associations parasitism; colony-forming/symphorism;
Associated with Free-living Achelia chelata reported to parasitize the mussel (Ref. 121217).
Association remarks Forms extensive mussel beds on surf-exposed rocks (Ref. 95344).
Parasitism

feeding

Feeding type mainly plants/detritus (troph. 2-2.19)
Feeding type Ref. Gallivan, G. and J. Danforth, 1999
Feeding habit filtering plankton
Feeding habit Ref. Gallivan, G. and J. Danforth, 1999

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method original sample unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition
From individual food items 2.00 0.00 Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref.
(e.g. 9948)
(e.g. cnidaria)
Comments & Corrections
 
 
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