The interaction between adults and recruitments in the brachidontes variabilis l. (lamellibranchiata) bed in the bitter great lake, suez canal

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to test two hypotheses concerning the interactions between adults and recruitments in the densly-packed assemblages of a population of suspension feeder (Brachidontes variabilis L.) in the Great Bitter Lake, Suez Canal. The hypothesis that the adults of B. variabilis inhibit the settlement of their own recruits was not supported. The size-class structure of B. variabilis population revealed no dominance of large individuals, indicating that older cohorts were not able to prevent subsequent mussel recruitment. The hypothesis that B. variabilishas a negative effect on the recruitment of other infaunal species also was not supported. The density of infauna inside the mussel bed was significantly higher than outside. Other molluscs and polychaets (Nereis sp.) were the most common and had higher abundances inside the mussel bed.