Mussel Clearing

Two ten gallon tanks each with the same set up (sand bed, filtered sea water and an air pump/stone). On the left about a dozen blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) are added. On the right nothing else added. We added a generous amount of phytoplankton to each tank then turned the camera on and walked away to get lunch ourselves. An hour later... This clip is sped up so that one hour is compressed into 1 minute.

Imagine how clear the waters of the Chesapeake and Long Island Sound must have been in the 17th century when vast reefs of oyster (with similar clearing ability) and mussels were thriving.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• mussels marine biology
• invertebrate
• filter feeding
• Mytilus edulis