Seagrass Meadows Modify Drag Forces on the Shell of the Fan Mussel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinna nobilis</Emphasis> |
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| Authors: | Iris E Hendriks Miguel Cabanellas-Reboredo Tjeerd J Bouma Salud Deudero Carlos M Duarte |
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| Institution: | 1.Department of Global Change Research. IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB),Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados,Esporles (Mallorca),Spain;2.Department of Ecology and Marine Resources. IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB),Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados,Esporles (Mallorca),Spain;3.Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO),Yerseke,The Netherlands;4.Instituto Espa?ol de Oceanografía (IEO)—Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares,Plama de Mallorca,Spain |
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| Abstract: | We assess the sheltering effect of Posidonia oceanica meadows on drag forces exerted on shells of the fan mussel Pinna nobilis. We examine a range of shell sizes under four unidirectional flow speeds (0.05–0.34 m s−1) and two oscillating regimes. Three meadow densities are evaluated and a control without vegetation. We found that the attenuating
effect of the meadow on drag forces experienced by bivalves is determined by the form of the hydrodynamic energy, e.g., as
unidirectional flow or wave action. In tidal currents, the meadow protects most sizes of bivalves, with a higher efficiency
for dense meadows, while in wave dominant zones the meadow reduces drag forces for bivalves with shell areas below a threshold
of 0.019 m2, whereas larger animals experience increased drag forces within the meadow independent of meadow density. Reduction of shoot
density in seagrass meadows might therefore not affect the effectiveness of the canopy to reduce drag forces on associated
species like the fan mussel in wave-dominated areas while increased storm frequency could result into losses of larger individuals
during periods of high wave action. |
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