TY - JOUR

T1 - Predators regulate the taxonomic structure of mixed Mytilus edulis L. and M. trossulus Gould settlements in the shallow waters of the White Sea

AU - Хайтов, Вадим Михайлович

AU - Макарычева, Анна Юрьевна

AU - Нематова, Рената Батировна

AU - Евдокимова, Алена Игоревна

N1 - Khaitov V. M. et al. Predators regulate the taxonomic structure of mixed Mytilus edulis L. and M. trossulus Gould settlements in the shallow waters of the White Sea //Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS. – 2023. – Т. 327. – №. 1. – С. 8-24.

PY - 2023/2/14

Y1 - 2023/2/14

N2 - Cryptic mussel species Mytilus edulis (Me) and M.trossulus (Mt) form mixed settlements in shallow waters of theWhite Sea. The proportion of Mt and Me in local settlements varies in broad limits but the factors regulatingtaxonomic composition of mixed populations are poorly understood. Present study focuses on the assessment ofthe sea star (Asterias rubens) predation influence on the Mt-Me ratio in natural habitats. For this purpose, we’veconducted a series of field experiments. For mussels placed on experimental units (ceramic plates submerged instarfish-infested habitats), we’ve estimated a probability of being eaten by starfish. We’ve constructed a linearmodel that includes several predictors which may influence the probability of being eaten (starfish biomass, musselsize, mussel species, prey abundance, Mt-Me ratio on experimental units and abundance of conspecifics). Theanalysis has revealed that the probability of being eaten expectedly increases with sea stars’ biomass increasing,but it is higher for Mt in comparison with Me. This indicates Mt as a preferable prey. Negative correlations betweenthe probability of being eaten and shell size, number of conspecifics and mussel abundance were also revealed. Nosignificant dependence on Mt-Me ratio was found. Additionally, we’ve taken field samples which revealed a significantdecrease in the proportion of Mt in mussel patches after a massive starfish attack. This indicates that starfishate out Mt as its preferable prey. These results show that predators can contribute to the regulation of taxonomiccomposition of mixed Mt-Me settlements in the White Sea.

AB - Cryptic mussel species Mytilus edulis (Me) and M.trossulus (Mt) form mixed settlements in shallow waters of theWhite Sea. The proportion of Mt and Me in local settlements varies in broad limits but the factors regulatingtaxonomic composition of mixed populations are poorly understood. Present study focuses on the assessment ofthe sea star (Asterias rubens) predation influence on the Mt-Me ratio in natural habitats. For this purpose, we’veconducted a series of field experiments. For mussels placed on experimental units (ceramic plates submerged instarfish-infested habitats), we’ve estimated a probability of being eaten by starfish. We’ve constructed a linearmodel that includes several predictors which may influence the probability of being eaten (starfish biomass, musselsize, mussel species, prey abundance, Mt-Me ratio on experimental units and abundance of conspecifics). Theanalysis has revealed that the probability of being eaten expectedly increases with sea stars’ biomass increasing,but it is higher for Mt in comparison with Me. This indicates Mt as a preferable prey. Negative correlations betweenthe probability of being eaten and shell size, number of conspecifics and mussel abundance were also revealed. Nosignificant dependence on Mt-Me ratio was found. Additionally, we’ve taken field samples which revealed a significantdecrease in the proportion of Mt in mussel patches after a massive starfish attack. This indicates that starfishate out Mt as its preferable prey. These results show that predators can contribute to the regulation of taxonomiccomposition of mixed Mt-Me settlements in the White Sea.

KW - Mytilus

KW - Asterias

KW - predator

M3 - Article

SP - 8

EP - 24

JO - ТРУДЫ ЗООЛОГИЧЕСКОГО ИНСТИТУТА РАН

JF - ТРУДЫ ЗООЛОГИЧЕСКОГО ИНСТИТУТА РАН

SN - 0206-0477

ER -