TY - JOUR
T1 - The Utility of Ribbed Mussels Guekensia demissa for Marsh Grass Restoration on Living Shoreline Projects in the Southeast US
T2 - Potential and Pitfalls
AU - Carroll, John M.
AU - Annis, William K.
AU - Cohen, Risa A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation 2024.
PY - 2024/9
Y1 - 2024/9
N2 - Living shorelines (LS) stabilize eroding banks while providing more natural habitats and creating a gentler slope for enhanced migration of flora and fauna migration as sea levels rise. Typical LS practices include using several different materials, including oyster shell bags, to stabilize shorelines and planting marsh grasses. However, incorporating other important species interactions among marsh organisms can improve LS function and stability. For example, ribbed mussels, Guekensia demissa, benefit marsh plants by adding nutrients and stabilizing sediments. Unfortunately, mussels are not typically included in management and restoration practices. In this study, the objective was to investigate whether ribbed mussels facilitate marsh grass growth at a LS site in the southeastern US. We conducted field surveys for mussel abundance and recruitment, and a manipulative in situ experiment at an established LS site in Georgia to explore the impacts of adding mussels. Although mussel treatment did not have a significant effect on Spartina alterniflora metrics (i.e., density, height, biomass), Spartina plots with high mussel density exhibited ~300% increase in biomass relative to the start of the experiment, while plots without mussels only increased by ~100%. Some of the variability within treatments can be explained by high and sustained mussel mortality throughout the experimental period, likely due to predation, that impacted the actual mussel densities in our plots. We found that Spartina height, density, and biomass exhibited significant positive relationships with mussel biomass. Thus, ribbed mussels may be useful in living shorelines restoration projects if they are planted in sufficient densities, in aggregations, and/or with protective devices.
AB - Living shorelines (LS) stabilize eroding banks while providing more natural habitats and creating a gentler slope for enhanced migration of flora and fauna migration as sea levels rise. Typical LS practices include using several different materials, including oyster shell bags, to stabilize shorelines and planting marsh grasses. However, incorporating other important species interactions among marsh organisms can improve LS function and stability. For example, ribbed mussels, Guekensia demissa, benefit marsh plants by adding nutrients and stabilizing sediments. Unfortunately, mussels are not typically included in management and restoration practices. In this study, the objective was to investigate whether ribbed mussels facilitate marsh grass growth at a LS site in the southeastern US. We conducted field surveys for mussel abundance and recruitment, and a manipulative in situ experiment at an established LS site in Georgia to explore the impacts of adding mussels. Although mussel treatment did not have a significant effect on Spartina alterniflora metrics (i.e., density, height, biomass), Spartina plots with high mussel density exhibited ~300% increase in biomass relative to the start of the experiment, while plots without mussels only increased by ~100%. Some of the variability within treatments can be explained by high and sustained mussel mortality throughout the experimental period, likely due to predation, that impacted the actual mussel densities in our plots. We found that Spartina height, density, and biomass exhibited significant positive relationships with mussel biomass. Thus, ribbed mussels may be useful in living shorelines restoration projects if they are planted in sufficient densities, in aggregations, and/or with protective devices.
KW - Guekensia demissa
KW - Living shorelines
KW - Restoration
KW - Ribbed mussels
KW - Salt marsh
KW - Spartina
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85197449806&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s12237-024-01394-z
DO - 10.1007/s12237-024-01394-z
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85197449806
SN - 1559-2723
VL - 47
SP - 1333
EP - 1344
JO - Estuaries and Coasts
JF - Estuaries and Coasts
IS - 6
ER -