Excess microalgae availability disrupts mussel byssus secretion

Mussels are key aquaculture species across the world, and a recent emerging challenge in longline mussel culture reported in Spain, New Zealand, and the United States is the detachment or fall-off of mussels from the line. Fixation of marine mussels to underwater substrates occurs through the secretion of a bundle of adhesive filaments called the byssus. Food supply determines the energy available to mussels, which is crucial for byssus attachment. The present study evaluated the effects of varying food availability on byssus secretion in the hard-shelled mussel .