Mussel-derived stimulation of benthic filamentous algae: The importance of nutrients and spatial scale |
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Authors: | Steven N. Francoeur Kimberly A. Peters Winslow Dianna Miller Scott D. Peacor |
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Affiliation: | 1. Biology Department, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, United States;2. Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43212, United States;3. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Honolulu, HI 96818, United States;4. Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States |
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Abstract: | The reoccurrence of benthic filamentous algal (FA) blooms in the Great Lakes, without associated increases in phosphorus loading, has stimulated renewed interest in determining the causes of Great Lakes benthic algal blooms. We investigated the potential roles of invasive mussels and nutrient limitation with experimental substrata within inner Saginaw Bay. FA abundance on live mussel substrata was typically significantly greater than that on inert (empty shell or rock) substrata. Nutrient addition (from an artificial source) significantly increased FA abundance on inert substrata. These results suggest that: 1) mussel nutrient excretion could be a primary stimulatory mechanism; 2) mussel-mediated stimulation may be even stronger in other, more oligotrophic, Great Lakes nearshore zones; and 3) increased nutrient loading to inner Saginaw Bay may exacerbate existing FA blooms. FA abundance on inert substrata was not affected, even in close proximity to mussels, indicating that the observed stimulatory effect of mussel-derived P on live mussels attenuated at very small spatial scales, on the order of centimeters or less. |
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Keywords: | Saginaw Bay Nutrient limitation Corresponding author. |
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