The decline of blue mussels investigated in a new project
The blue mussel is a key species in the Baltic Sea ecosystem, but in some areas, its average size is declining. A new research project, led by Linnaeus University, will investigate the reasons behind this decline and explore restoration solutions.
The new research project aims to determine the extent of the decline in the Baltic Sea and identify its causes. It will also provide recommendations for the management and recovery of blue mussels, which will in turn benefit the seabirds that depend on them, such as the common eider.
“The blue mussel is a key species in the Baltic Sea as it filters enormous amounts of water and serves as a primary food source for several species. It’s concerning if the mussel is in decline”, says Samuel Hylander, associate professor of aquatic ecology and project leader.
The project is funded and carried out by Björn Carlson Baltic Fellows, a network of around 20 selected researchers from the countries around the Baltic Sea working to improve the marine environment in the region. From Linnaeus University, Samuel Hylander, Elin Lindehoff, and Petter Tibblin are participating.
Samuel Hylander coordinates the collaboration between the 20 researchers, who will collect environmental monitoring data from around the entire Baltic Sea to determine whether mussel populations are declining everywhere.
“We will also examine the mussels to understand whether their quality has been affected, which could make them a poorer food source for eiders and other animals that depend on them”, he says.
Further information:
More about the project: Blue mussels in decline in the Baltic Sea -The effects on mussel-eating seabirds and possible solutions
More about Björn Carlson Baltic Fellows
The project is linked to Linnaeus University Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial model Systems (EEMiS) – one of Linnaeus University’s centres of excellence.