RECRUITMENT OF THE MUSSEL MYTILUS-GALLOPROVINCIALIS ON COLLECTORS SITUATED ON THE INTERTIDAL ZONE IN THE RIA DE AROUSA (NW SPAIN)

The annual pattern of recruitment of the mussel, Mytilus galloprovinci alis, on artificial collectors, situated at three intertidal levels of three sites of an estuarine gradient in the Ria de Arousa (NW of Spai n), has been investigated. Higher values of recruitment were found to occur from July to September at the middle and outer sites of the Ria, and at lower intertidal levels. This study demonstrated that, except at the inner zone, the low intertidal areas inside the Ria have a high potential for the extraction of mussel seed.