[NatureNS] The Great Barrier Reef of the mussel world -- Chronicle Herald,

Date: Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:24:03 -0400
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Laura Hussey and marine geologist Gordon Fader will be talking to the
Blomidon Naturalists Society in Wolfville about this next June 16/08.
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Subject: The Great Barrier Reef of the mussel world -- Chronicle Herald,
Jan. 31, 2008

Chronicle Herald, Letter/Opinion, Thurs., Jan. 31, 2008

The Great Barrier Reef of the mussel world

By LAURA HUSSEY

When most of us think of reefs, we think of tropical scenes with brightly
coloured fish and bikinis. Maybe some of us also think of the beautiful and
fascinating forests of deep sea corals found off Nova Scotiašs shores. It is
unlikely, however, that many people think of mussels.

Usually we associate mussels more with garlic butter than with reefs, but in
our own Bay of Fundy, mussels are doing some very impressive things. Large
groupings of these molluscs have formed extensive fields of reefs on the
seafloor, with each reef measuring about 20 metres wide, up to three metres
high and 1.2 kilometres long. These are the biggest reefs of their kind
known to exist anywhere on the planet. So high tides arenšt the only unusual
feature that the Bay of Fundy has to offer!

The reefs in the Bay of Fundy are formed by horse mussels (Modiolus
modiolus). Horse mussels are similar to the more familiar blue mussel (the
kind that goes well with garlic butter), though horse mussels generally grow
to be larger (up to 22 centimetres) with a heavier and more rugged shell.

The horse mussels are able to form reefs because sand and mud that is moved
across the seafloor by the strong Fundy tidal currents becomes trapped in
the byssal threads that mussels use to attach themselves to hard surfaces.
As old mussels die and sediment continues to build, new mussels can build
upward on top of the growing mounds of sand and mud and mussel shells, all
held together by the byssal threads.

The mussel reefs add structural complexity to the seafloor, providing
habitat for communities of other organisms. By filtering food out of the
water column and providing nutrients to the seafloor in their waste
products, the reef mussels also increase local biological productivity.
Because of their important ecological roles and because horse mussel reefs
of this size are unique to the Bay of Fundy, the Canadian Parks and
Wilderness Society - Nova Scotia Chapter (CPAWS-NS) is working to protect
them.

To do this, we are working with government, industry and community members
to better understand the reefs, the threats facing them, measures that could
be taken to protect them, and how these measures could affect the people
living and working in the Bay of Fundy region. Ultimately, CPAWS-NS wants to
ensure that these magnificent marine features can be maintained.

Among the more serious threats that need to be addressed, mussel reefs are
vulnerable to physical disturbances to the seafloor such as those created by
fishing trawls and dredges. Sonograms of the Bay of Fundy seafloor show
linear gouges through the reefs in some areas where trawls have already
passed through. In the United Kingdom, smaller horse mussel reefs have
sustained more widespread damage of this kind and expensive restoration work
is now being undertaken in some areas; however, a complete recovery in the
near future is unlikely. CPAWS-NS wants to ensure that the Bay of Fundy
reefs do not suffer the same fate.

CPAWS-NS also wants to spread the word about this natural marine wonder in
our own backyard. So, the next time youšre about to dip a tasty mussel
morsel in garlic butter, pause to consider the mighty mussel architects in
the Bay of Fundy whose colonies have grown into structures higher than the
ceiling in an average room and larger in area than an average city block.
Here, on the seafloor in the depths of our Bay of Fundy, the humble horse
mussel has created something quite special and worth protecting.

CPAWS-NS wishes to acknowledge support for this work from the Gulf of Maine
Council on the Marine Environment, Mountain Equipment Co-op, and the Sage
Environmental Program.

Laura Hussey is marine co-ordinator, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society -
Nova Scotia Chapter (CPAWS-NS).

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