The Physiological and Biochemical Response of Ribbed Mussels to Rising Temperatures: Benefits of Salt Marsh Cordgrass.

ABSTRACT: Salt marsh ecosystems are heavily reliant on ribbed mussel (Geukensia demissa) populations to aid in rapid recovery from droughts. The focus of this study was thus to document the effects of rising temperatures on ribbed mussel populations in a Georgia salt marsh. Seven lab and eight field experiments were used to assess the effects of current air temperatures on mussels at two high marsh (HM) sites with short and sparse cordgrass and one mid marsh (MM) site with tall and dense cordgrass. Field results in 2018 and 2019 indicate that ribbed mussels were experiencing extremely high temperatures for prolonged periods of time at the landlocked high marsh (LHM) site. In 2018, the highest temperature (54°C) and longest high temperature events, HTEs (58 days), that is, consecutive days wit

SUBMITTER: Smith A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11398905 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature