Feeding Behaviour of the Mussel, Mytilus edulis: New Observations, with a Minireview of Current Knowledge

Table 1

Mytilus edulis. Feeding experiments (no. 1 to no. 10) conducted with a group of 20 mussels during a period of 50 days. Series of experiments were conducted at low (L) algal concentration (C) before the concentration was increased to a higher (H) level. The mean (±SD) steady-state filtration rate (F) at first low algal concentration and then at subsequently higher concentration is shown along with the time (Δ𝑡) where steady state was maintained at high concentration before incipient saturation (cf. Figure 1). Finally, the total number of algal cells (Rhodomonas salina) ingested (𝐼_𝑡𝑜𝑡=𝐹×𝐶×Δ𝑡) before saturation is shown.

Exp. no. (Day)	Series	C (cells mL^−1)	F (mL min^−1)	Δ𝑡 (min)	𝐼tot (×10^6 cells)
1 (4)	1 (L)	2,263±148	14.6±1.3
2 (7)	1 (L)	1,959±60	15.1±0.5
	2 (L)	1,609±151	17.4±1.9
3 ( 8)	1 (L)	1,767±103	16.7±0.9
4 (11)	1 (L)	2,061±133	13.8±1.0
	2 (H)	8,359±144	15.4±0.7	96	12.4
5 (15)	1 (L)	2,084±209	16.3±1.7
	2 (H)	15,330±365	16.1±0.6	45	11.1
6 (16)	1 (L)	2,058±146	16.3±0.6
	2 (H)	15,921±417	15.8±0.6	41	10.3
7 (23-24)	1 (L)	1,685±99	17.9±1.3
	2 (H)	4,632±239	20.8±1.3
	3 (L)	1,685±52	19.1±0.8
8 (39)	1 (L)	1,951±111	20.1±1.3
	2 (H)	13,338±861	15.5±1.3	68	14.1
9 (44)	1 (L)	1,783±156	17.3±1.0
	2 (H)	9,890±81	17.0±0.3	54	9.1
10 (50)	1 (L)	2,471±167	14.1±0.6
	2 (H)	20,928±211	16.6±0.3	33	11.5
				Mean ± SD	11.4±1.7