Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Subclass: Pteriomorphia
Order: Mytilidia
Superfamily: Mytiloidea
Family: Mytilidae
Subfamily: Mytilinae
Genus: Mytilus
Similar species: oysters, hard clam
Previously known as: Mytilus edulis edulis
Biological Information/Life History
| Growth Rate | N/A |
| Size | 5-10cm (Zagata et al. 2008) |
| Life span | <24 years (Zagata et al. 2008) |
| Spawning season | Early spring to late summer (Seed 1968) |
| Sessile vs non sessile | Sessile |
| Reproduction | Sexual via spawing |
| Age for reproduction | ~1 (Seed 1968) |
| Number of offspring | 5-40 million eggs (Zagata et al. 2008) |
| Role in food chain | Filter Feeder |
| Dispersal distance | N/A |
Common diseases: Parasitic infection, Viral disease, Vibriosis, Rickettsiosis (FAO 2006)
Environmental Tolerances
| Temperature Range | 2-29 |
| Salinity | >15% (Zagata et al. 2008) |
| Depth found at | 1-10 meters (Zagata et al. 2008) |
Human Uses
Mytilus edulis are used as a food source both commercially (in aquaculture) and recreationally. Their shells can also be used in jewelry (Zagata et al. 2008).
Fun Fact
Mussels are typically in worse condition after spawning (FAO 2006).
References
Beninger, P., Veniot, A., & Poussart, Y. (1999). Principles of pseudofeces rejection on the bivalve mantle : integration in particle processing. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 178, 259–269. Retrieved from https://www.int-res.com/articles/meps/178/m178p259.pdf
FAO. (1996). Cultured Aquatic Species Information Programme Mytilus edulis (Linnaeus, 1758) Fisheries. Retrieved from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for a world without hunger – Fisheries and Aquaculture Department website: http://www.fao.org/fishery/culturedspecies/Mytilus_edulis/en
Okamura, B. (1986). Oecologia Group living and the effects of spatial position in aggregations of Mytilus edulis. Oecologia, (171), 341–347. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00377054
Ragnarsson, S., & Raffaelli, D. (1999). Effects of the mussel Mytilus edulis L. on the invertebrate fauna of sediments ´. 241(1), 31–43. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022098199000635
Seed, R. (1969). The ecology of Mytilus edulis L. (Lamellibranchiata) on exposed rocky shores – I. Breeding and settlement. Oecologia, 3(3–4), 277–316. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390380
Torp, H., Dolmer, P., Hansen, B. W., Holmer, M., Dahl, L., Poulsen, L. K., … Støttrup, J. G. (2015). Aggregation and attachment responses of blue mussels , Mytilus edulis — impact of substrate composition , time scale and source of mussel seed. Aquaculture, 435, 245–251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2014.09.043