Feeding Behaviour of the Mussel, Mytilus edulis: New Observations, with a Minireview of Current Knowledge
Figure 2
Conceptual illustration of experimental approach for using the steady-state method (Figure 1) to identify the upper algal concentration above which Mytilus edulis reduces its filtration rate. At algal concentrations above the lower threshold (Cl), M. edulis is stimulated to open its shells and exploit its filtration rate capacity so that a steady state is maintained over an extended period of time, but, when the algal concentration is elevated above an upper concentration threshold (Cu), the mussel becomes saturated (s) after some time () so that the mussel shuts down thus giving rise to a rapidly increasing algal concentration in the aquarium.
