Effect of Mytilus coruscus selective filtration on phytoplankton assemblages

The feeding selectivity of bivalves can play an important role in shaping the structure phytoplankton communities natural waters. This could be particularly true waters with intensive farming, like Sungo Bay, Northern China. Understanding bivalve behavior is for assessing how dense cultivation may affect community composition and food web farm areas. In this study, we investigated blue mussel Mytilus coruscus on assemblages Bay using both optical microscopy HPLC-pigment analysis. Results showed that cryptophytes dominated made up 66.1% total abundance. A comparison between filtered seawater M. preferred dinoflagellates than Chaetoceros spp. Skeletonema Cryptophytes were not detected gut contents by microscopic observation, while their marker pigment alloxanthin was present, suggesting they also consumed readily digested. highlights shortcomings methods significance analysis obtaining a comprehensive understanding bivalves. proportions significantly lower seawater, contrastingly, Cocconeis Pinnularia opposite patterns. pigments prasinoxanthin zeaxanthin indicating picophytoplankton (e.g., prasinophytes Synechococcus ) are sources bivalve. information furthers our aquaculture environment interactions.