Dreissena polymorpha (Bivalvia: Dreissenidae) in the Neva Estuary (eastern Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea): is it a biofilter or source for pollution?
The zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha, a ponto-caspian byssate bivalve, forms permanent dense populations along the shoreline in the northern part of the inner Neva Estuary. Its total biomass along a 17 km transect reached 4980 tons (mean 1060 g m(-2)) in 2000 and 6510 tons (mean 1385 g m(-2)) in 2001. Being persistent and abundant, the zebra mussel populations played an important role in benthic-pelagic coupling in inner Neva River Estuary. The D. polymorpha population released up to 514 kg day(-1) of dissolved inorganic phosphorus and was, therefore, a major source of bioavailable nutrients in the area. Mussel beds were also efficient biofilters and precipitate 15,020 kg day(-1) of particulate organic matter during the warm season. About 50% of precipitated matter had a relatively long retention time, being utilized within zebra mussel populations, while the rest was deposited as faeces and pseudofaeces and served as a source for organic pollution to the eastern Gulf of Finland.
Orlova
M
M
Zoological Institute RAS, Universitetskaya nab. 1, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia. marina_orlova@rambler.ru
Golubkov
S
S
Kalinina
L
L
Ignatieva
N
N
D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000502:physiology*; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D005374:Filtration; D005387:Finland; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012995:Solubility; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D010758:Phosphorus