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The article discusses a study which identified how the distribution of rock lobsters varies across kelp and mussel bed habitats using information from subtidal surveys. Information from stable isotope analysis was used to determine which factors would best predict individual level variability in trophic position and in the composition of basal organic matter sources that support Jasus edwardsii in these habitats. The presence or absence of lobsters was recorded during subtital surveys at 15 meters (m), 10m and 5m depth. It suggests a link between variability in niche breadth to trophic diversity among individuals in a population.

The article discusses a study aimed at determining if the settlement patterns of Mytilus gallo-provincialis are influenced by shelf winds and continental runoff in different ways at 2 sites with different hydrographic characteristics in the Rîa de Ares-Betanzos. It also investigated delayed effects of the forcing variables on settlement to infer the relevance of said variables at different times of the planktonic life. Settlement was observed at each location at 1 and 6m depths with the use of 3 collecting ropes covered with jute. The results demonstrated the link between mussel settlement and the northeasterly winds prevalent during the upwelling favourable season and suggests a relevant role of coastal water fertilization for larval survival.

The article discusses a study aimed at clarifying the roles of direct physical effects like water movement and biological effects such as grazing and predation on rocky shores. It tested if the establishment of benthic species differed between exposed and sheltered shores and examined experimentally whether the presence of consumers impacted the establishment of benthic species. The study was conducted on mussel-dominated rocky shores in County Cork, Ireland where 3 sheltered shores and 3 exposed shores were chosen randomly to represent extremes of the exposure scale in this area. It suggests that consumers can plan an important role in regulating the establishment of benthic species.

The article discusses a study which traced the sources of organic matter and nitrogen (N) for the rías of Ortigueira, O Barqueiro and Viveiro in northern Galicia, Spain. Stable carbon (C) and nitrogen isotopes were used to trace organic matter and nitrogen sources. The collection of samples of water, seston, benthic organisms and sediment was done in summer 2007 and 2008. Intertidal macrophytes, namely, Acrophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus, and mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis collected from all ri´as were analysed for C and N content and stable isotope composition. The main river of Viveira showed high concentrations of ammonium, chlorophyll and heavy nitrogen isotopes in seston which is said to indicate local pollution.

The article discusses a study on the exhalant jet flow of blue mussels Mytilus edulis. The samples of blue mussels used in the study were gathered from Kerteminde Fjord in Denmark. The filtration rates, exhalant siphon aperture area, jet velocity, gill area and body dry weight of fully open mussels were measured as a function of shell length. The scaling laws derived from these mussel characteristics are detailed. Three methods were employed to determine the exhalant jet velocity, namely, measured clearance rate divided by exhalant aperture area, manual particle tracking velocimetry (PVT) that uses video-microscope recordings and particle image velocimetry (PIV).

The article focuses on a study about the geographic variation in the trophic ecology of the African black oystercatcher (ABO), an avian rocky shore predator, along the southern African coastline. Under the study, the trophic ecology of ABO which is also called Haematopus moquini is examined across the full extent of the breeding range in association with the spatial changes in the local assemblages of prey species living in its habitat and with the larger oceanic processes. Data on carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios depict the combination of large-scale patterns of primary productivity and prey assemblages. Tissue analysis suggest changes in intertidal nutrient quality associated with major oceanic influences as well as local anthropogenic perturbations.

The article focuses on a study on the impact of site at macro- and micro-geographical scales on the tenacity and associated features of the extracellular structure byssus secreted by Mytilus galloprovincialis within Ría de Vigo in Spain. Byssus is described as an array of collagenous threads secreted in the ventral groove of the foot of the mussel, the secretion of which allows the mussel to withstand hydrodynamic challenges presented by the sea. Results show that mussels in the outer exposed site Cabo Estay exhibit a more hydrodynamic shape designed to face hydrodynamic stress. The distal section of the byssus is cited as a key factor associated with the variability in mussel tenacity.

The article presents the study which examined the scale-dependent patterns and processes of intertidal mussel recruitment in southern Africa. It cites the three descriptors of recruitment used in the study, namely, the recruitment intensity, peak annual recruitment, and recruitment events. It claims that correlation analyses are used to evaluate the relationships between recruitment intensity and adult abundance during recruitment events. The intertidal mussel species that were assessed are Mytilus galloprovincialis, Perna perna, Semimytilus algosus, and Aulacomya ater.

The article highlights physical and biological control of element incorporation into biogenic carbonate. To observe physico-chemical conditions, the authors used the mussels Mytiulus galloprovincialis in controlled environments and they were subjected to solution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in measuring 15 elements that includes zinc, iron and copper. They found that environmental control significantly influences majority of the elements. They conclude that their findings can be used in resolving physical versus biological controls of a trace element incorporated into biogenic carbonates.

The article discusses findings of several experiments which examined the effects of the predatory starfish Heliaster helianthus on substrate colonization by the dominant mussel Semimytilus algosus in a rocky intertidal area of the central Peruvian coast. The experiments conducted include the exclusions of starfish from the edge of mussel beds, from areas on bare substrate and from areas surrounding recruitment mediators. Several factors that are considered important in the control of Peruvian rocky intertidal communities include biological factors like predation and periodic oceanographic fluctuations.

The article focuses on the possibility of intra-annual variability in blue mussel Mytilus edulis' nutrient regeneration in the Norwegian fjord systems. The authors conducted two experiments in the course of their study, wherein one centered on quantifying temporal changes in mussel density and the other focused on quantifying temporal variation in oxygen, nitrogen, phosphate and silicate fluxes along mussel ropes. The authors say that variation in inorganic nitrogen release, nutrient release rates among others affected mussel growth, as well as changes in water temperature and biofouling biomass.

The article discusses a study of the interactive effects of losing key grazers on ecosystem structure conducted at Harlyn Bay and Polzeath in Cornwall, South West England from 1998 to 2000. A factorial design was used to examine the effects of losing limpets and mussels on the ecosystem. Densities and grazing pressure were said to be effectively maintained by the manual removals of limpets. The effect of the loss of mussels on community structure at Polzeath was more pronounced compared with limpets. Another discovery is the role of limpets and mussels in the recruitment of Fucus germlings at the sites.

The article discusses a study on the diet of intertidal Actinia equina found at different heights on shores of various wave exposure levels in Ireland. The study involved sea anemones collected on falling tides within a few minutes of the tide living them in summer 2009. The diet of sea anemones found at the exposed shore and the lower part of the semi-exposed shore was dominated by molluscs. Results showed that shore exposure and shore height influence the coelenteron contents of A. equina. Also noted is the preference of A. equina for dead or damaged animals given the fact that mussels with cut adductor muscles were fully digested by the organism.

The article examines interspecific competitive strengths and survival and growth rates between the tunicate Pyura praeputialis and the mussel Perumytilus purpuratus at mid-low and mid-upper intertidal fringes in Chile's Bay of Antofagasta. It was found that the survival and growth rates of the invading P. praeputialis were not significantly affected by the presence of the native P. purpuratus in the mid-low fringe. Survival of P. praeputialis was decreased by the presence of P. purpuratus at the mid-upper intertidal fringe. The role of P. praeputialis in modifying the zonation pattern in the bay is also addressed.

The article details a study on larval dispersal and recruitment dynamics intertidal mussels and barnacles in the southern Benguella upwelling region located at Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, conducted by Maya C. Pfaff and colleagues. It notes that mussels have strong seasonal recruitment peaks during the summer upwelling season while barnacles during spring. The recruitment dynamics of mussels peaked northwards while the recruitment of barnacles increased southwards. According to this study, mussels and barnacles have the same recruitment patterns. The positive effect of wave exposure on the recruitment dynamics of mussels and barnacles is discussed.

The article discusses a research study on environmental condition variation in a subtidal prey refuge of blue mussel Mystilus edulis galloprovincialis and the effects of low-salinity layer (LSL), predation and food availability in the waters of Doubtful Sound, New Zealand. Conducted were fine oceanographic surveys and multi-layer observations in Doubtful Sound which showed vertical hydrocoast of temperature, nitrate concentration and conductivity while the mussels from 6 meters deep of mid-fjord zone were placed in predator exclusion cages. Results showed the significant impact of salinity on growth rate of mussels at 87% with low salinity-environmental stress exerting greatest influence on mussel growth rate within the critical subtidal prey area.

The article discusses a study on the alteration of the configuration of bioengineers that impacts associated taxa. The study procedure included the investigation into the impact of patch configuration on abiotic and biotic variables by maintaining the constant number of habitat patches. The examination of the influence of an ecosystem engineer on intertidal rocky shores was done using the hairy mussel Trichomya hirsuta as the study subject. Results revealed differences between assemblages associated with mussels and assemblages associated with substrata without mussels.

The article discusses a study which investigated if spatial variation in size distribution of the mussel Bathymodiolus childressi is influenced by differences in larval supply, settlement, substratum selection by settling larvae, juvenile mortality, growth or predation adjacent to the pool, at the fringes of the mussel bed and two meters away from the bed. The study found no difference between the supply of larvae and the density of settlers. Juvenile survival and growth were found to be the same in the zones. Study authors hypothesized that very early post-settlement mortality, secondary settlement, and/or later migration of juveniles have a role in establishing and maintaining the persistent pattern of size structure across the mussel bed.

The article examines several community states defined by different dominant species and the threshold conditions that result in switches among these states based on observational and experimental data. Researchers described and reviewed the diversity of natural histories of species within epifaunal communities characteristic of southern New England and how they contribute to at least four dominant states, including a diverse native community dominated by bryozoans and sponges most commonly found in open coast areas. They concluded that coastal development and restoration efforts are under management control and could have large effects on community states, particularly the native community.

The article presents a study that examines the effects of biofilm and conspecific settlers, separately and in combination, on subsequent primary and secondary settlement of co-existing Perna Perna and Mytilus Galloprovincials in South Africa. It states that the study was conducted at two coastal sites in South Africa, wherein spatial replication of the experiments were conducted. Several experimental treatments were conducted including biofilm, settler, and one control treatment for the course of 5 preparatory days to examine the indigenous settlers' behavioural responses. Results show that both biofilm and conspecific presence have positive effects on settlements and that it provides new understanding for small-scale settlement patterns and influence large-scale ecological processes.

The article presents a study which investigates the effect of benthic and pelagic predators on intertidal mussel population in the marine protected area in South Africa. The study uses various treatments including caged treatment, roof treatment, and fence treatment as well as factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine the effects of different types of predators on the juvenile mussel samples which were collected from Plettenberg Bay in July 2009. The results show that mussels which were exposed to all predators have 50% survival rate, and benthic and pelagic predators were well balanced on juvenile mussels predation. Moreover, the result of ANOVA reveals that mortality was lower in the full cage treatment and equal in treatments with fences, roofs, or no protection.

The article presents a study which investigated the assimilation of particulate matter in mussels Bathymodiolus azoricus at hydrothermal vents of the Azores Triple Junction on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. It is stated that there is a contribution of photosynthetically produced organic matter to the diet of the mussels and that active suspension-feeding on particulates and dissolved organic matter could contribute to amino acid budget of the mussels. The authors discussed the organic compounds that originate from a mixture of biogenic and abiogenic processes taken from hydrothermal fluids.

The article investigates the significant role of mechanisms and competition of interaction in determining the spread of Mytilus galloprovincialis, a Mediterranean bay mussel, in Pacific Northwest. It examines the function of the competition's direct and indirect mechanism among Mytillus trossulus, Mytilus californianus and Mytilus galloprovincialis. Furthermore, it describes the use of changes to assess the interactions among mussels through the relative performance in monocultures and polycultures. Moreover, results of the analysis is discussed.

The article presents a study which examines the effects of light reduction in anti-herbivore defense and bioactivity against mussels in seaweeds in northern-central Chile. It aims to reduce the production of secondary metabolites against grazing and fouling that is costly for seaweeds in terms of metabolic energy. The study was conducted within two weeks where seaweeds were put in a place with reduced ambient sunlight conditions. It states that anti-herbivore defense against a common amphipod grazer in feeding assays were tested. It mentions that byssus threads produced by mussels were utilized in a standard test that aims to indicate the deterrents in crude algae extracts. It shows that seaweeds may utilize a variety of strategies of energy allocation to adjust with low-light conditions.

The article focuses on the impact of the selective removal of the brown alga Cystoseira compressa and the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis to the number and identity of habitat-forming species (HFSs) on assemblages of algae and invertebrates on rocky shores in north-western Mediterranean. The study uses the experimental design to effectively sort out the richness and identities of the species as well as to control the variation of its abundance. It notes that the direction and extent of effects is dependent in the abundance of species. It focuses how the simultaneous loss of two HFSs affects the assemblages, emphasizes the value of analyzing the non-random loss of species, and asserts the need to insure density-dependent outcomes in biodiversity studies.

The article presents a study which focuses on the implications of byssus thread production in the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis as an anti-predator mechanism. It notes that these mussels release large number of byssus threads during the threat of predation, and form clumps. The study establishes chemical stimulus treatments in which heterospecifics and conspecifics are damaged. Findings show that the anti-predator responses of the production of byssus thread may be related to the existence of damaged conspecifics, as well as the position of the mussels in the clump, which are indicators of pressure in local predation.