DISTRIBUTION AND THE ROLE OF MYTILUS EDULIS (LINNE) IN THE COASTAL ZONE OF THE POMERANIAN BAY

Abstract

Distribution of Mytilus edulis in the 4-nautical mile-wide coastal zone of the Pomeranian Bay was studied in 1992 and 1993. The study revealed uneven settling of the bottom by Mytilus edulis with densities ranging from 0 to 17 488 ind./m². The frequency (F) of the blue mussel occurrence was about 60%. The average density of Mytilus (1 578 ind./m²) and the (wet weight) biomass (264.8 g/m²) suggest that it is the dominant form of macrozoobenthos and plays a major role in the process of biofiltration, biosedimentation and bioaccumulation of nutrients. The growing biomass of M. edulis in the bay caused by the process of eutrophication serves as a convenient food resource for benthophagous fishes, mainly for the flounder, viviparous eelpout and roach (Krzykawski and Zalachowski 1983, Witek 1995).