Large-Scale Spatial Dynamics of Intertidal Mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) Bed Coverage in the German and Dutch Wadden Sea

Intertidal blue mussel beds in the German and Dutch Wadden Sea exhibit synchronized growth patterns within proximate tidal basins, with limited or negative synchrony between distant groups. This spatial dynamic is primarily driven by larval dispersal conditions rather than environmental factors like winter temperature or storminess. The study analyzed yearly distributions of adult mussel beds from 1968–1976 and 1999–2010 across 36 tidal basins, revealing that the highest coverage occurs in sheltered southern basins. Using a stochastic growth model, researchers found no consistent evidence that cold winters or stormy seasons significantly impacted population dynamics. Instead, boundaries between synchronized groups aligned with river mouths and areas lacking suitable habitat, suggesting metapopulation processes play a crucial role in mussel bed spatial dynamics.

Folmer, E. O., Drent, J., Troost, K., Büttger, H., Dankers, N., Jansen, J., van Stralen, M., Millat, G., Herlyn, M., & Philippart, C. J. M. (2014). Large-Scale Spatial Dynamics of Intertidal Mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) Bed Coverage in the German and Dutch Wadden Sea. Ecosystems, 17(3), 550–566. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-013-9742-4