Data of predation on mussels from an LTREB project in the Gulf of Maine, USA, from 1996 to 2021.

Experimental clearings in macroalgal (Ascophyllum nodosum) stands were made in 1996 to determine if mussel beds and macroalgal stands on protected intertidal shores in New England represent alternative community states. Uncleared control plots and four sizes of circular clearings (1m, 2m, 4m and 8m in diameter), which mimicked ice scour events, were established in A. nodosum stands at 12 sites on Swan’s Island, Maine, USA. This dataset reports mussel predation on clumps of 15 mussels (Mytilus edulis) using mesh bags placed in the centers of clearings and controls. Mussel mortality was monitored in 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2007 and then annually from 2010 to 2021. Causes of death were attributed to dogwhelks (Nucella lapillus), crabs (Carcinus maenas and Cancer spp.) or unknown causes. Presence and activities (e.g., drilling) of dogwhelks was also recorded. The standardized identifiers (Bay, Site, Plot) allow integration with related Environmental Data Initiative packages on community composition and recruitment of mussels, barnacles and rockweeds. Research was funded by NSF's LTREB program.

1996年，研究人员于美国新英格兰地区受保护潮间带海岸的泡叶藻（Ascophyllum nodosum）群落中设置实验清除样地，旨在验证该区域的贻贝床与大型藻类群落是否属于交替稳定群落状态。本研究设置了未进行清除操作的对照样地，以及直径分别为1米、2米、4米、8米的4种圆形清除样地（模拟冰蚀事件），所有样地均设立于美国缅因州天鹅岛的12处泡叶藻群落样点中。本数据集记录了以网袋盛装15枚紫贻贝（Mytilus edulis）组成的团块并放置于清除样地与对照样地中心，以此开展的贻贝捕食监测数据。研究团队分别于1996年、1999年、2000年、2003年、2004年、2007年，以及2010年至2021年的每年对贻贝死亡率进行监测。贻贝死亡原因被归为三类：狗岩螺（Nucella lapillus）捕食、蟹类（欧洲绿蟹Carcinus maenas与黄道蟹属Cancer spp.）捕食，或未知原因。研究同时记录了狗岩螺的存在情况与活动行为（例如钻孔取食行为）。本数据集采用标准化标识符（海湾、样点、样地），可与环境数据倡议（Environmental Data Initiative）下关于群落组成、贻贝、藤壶与岩藻种群补充的相关数据包进行整合。本研究由美国国家科学基金会（National Science Foundation, NSF）的LTREB计划资助。