Spatial dominance is maintained by the balance of three processes: mor
tality, recruitment, and growth. Patches of mussels facing high rates
of mortality may show no change in percent cover (i.e., dominance) as
long as growth by the remaining survivors can fill in the vacant space
. A graphical model is developed to examine the possibility that growt
h may ameliorate the effects of predation and physical disturbance on
spatial dominance. In the model, growth, mortality, and recruitment ar
e depicted as Vectors on a set of isoclines for log percent cover. The
100% isocline is analogous to the self-thinning line. Self-thinning d
ata for the mussel Mytilus edulis are used to establish the log-percen
t isoclines. A review of published growth and mortality data suggests
mussels can use growth to offset the effects of mortality. Small musse
ls can easily double in length in 1 yr, and this is sufficient to with
stand 60% mortality per year without a loss in percent cover. Since bo
th growth and mortality tend to be size specific, the point at which g
rowth can no longer offset mortality depends on the environmental cond
itions that affect rates of growth and mortality. The model and analys
is can be easily extended to other species and suggest that species wi
th rapid growth and large variation in body size need not rely on recr
uitment to maintain spatial dominance, even when faced with high rates
of predation.