Effect of wave exposure on growth and mortality rates of the mussel Perna perna: bottom-up regulation of intertidal populations

The effect of wave exposure on the growth of low-shore populations of Perna perna (Linnaeus) was determined using 3 independent approaches at 6 sites on the south coast of South Africa: (1) Individual marking; notches were fi led on the growing edges of mussels in situ. After 111 d, growth from the m ark to the new growing edge was measured. (2) Internal shell-growth bands; mussels from the mark-recapture experiment were used to establish that grow th bands are laid down tidally. Unmarked individuals were then used to meas ure growth over the last 60 tides. (3) Shepherd's length-composition analys is (SLCA); growth rates were determined from length-frequency distributions in 11 samples collected at 6 wk intervals over 15 mo. All 3 approaches sho wed that growth rate was approximately twice as fast on exposed as on shelt ered shores (ANCOVA, p < 0.05 in all cases). Mean length for the first year of growth (averaged for the 3 methods) was 47 and 22 mm, respectively. The re were, however, considerable differences among methods. Marking provided the lowest estimates of growth rates, and SLCA the highest. The mean mortal ity index (Z yr(-1)) was significantly higher and annual survival rate lowe r for exposed shores, indicating faster turnover under exposed conditions. Mean longevity on exposed shores (2.6 yr) was only one-third of estimated l ongevity on sheltered shores (6.7 yr). These findings show that degree of e xposure has important interactions with growth and mortality of mussels on the low shore, and that these effects are independent of the effects of exp osure on density. The findings also indicate strong bottom-up regulation of mussel populations.