Ecosystem Analysis - Mussel beds

Mussel beds

Mussel beds play a central role in the intertidal ecosystem because a large number of invertebrate species, individuals and biomass is aggregated in this community. Thus within mussel beds extensive interactions among plant and animal species can be observed and this interaction leads to intensive metabolic activity and productivity of this community. Because mussel beds are dominated by suspension feeders they extract organic material from the ambient water body and have therefore the potential to play an important role in the exchange processes of the intertidal ecosystem. However, covering only 1 % of the intertidal area of the Sylt-Rømø Bay its influence on the total ecosystem  is low, but locally, for example in the Königshafen, mussel beds can control the energy flow. In the Sylt-Rømø-Bay mussel beds have been investigated intensively to quantify their secondary production, and also the consumption and predation by birds, as well as the prey-predator relationship in intertidal and subtidal mussel beds. Exchange processes between mussel beds and the ambient tidal water have been investigated. Present research focuses on  the role of mussel beds as a nursery area for juvenile fishes and on role they play for biodiversity.