Where are the biggest mussels?

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Connor and Robles (2015), working on small a spatial scale, show that mussels (Mytilus californicus) from low-shore and high wave exposure habitats grow faster when young and become the largest adults.
The Robles lab (California State University, Los Angeles) and Halpin lab (UC Santa Barbara) have been conducting studies on spatial and temporal changes of mussel beds and recently including of global climate change factors, and how landscape processes affect mussel bed structure in Barkley Sound. Dr. Robles has been conducting his research here since the 1980’s.

BMSC Alumnus and CSU Masters student Helen Yip, is examining energy storage and differences in size structures of sea stars (Pisaster ochraceus) across the wave exposure gradient in relation to the varying availability and sizes of mussels (M. californianus). photos: H. Yip