Geukensia demissa

Geukensia demissa is a species of mussel, a marine bivalve mollusk in the family Mytilidae, the true mussels. This species is native to the Atlantic coast of North America. The common names for this species include ribbed mussel, Atlantic ribbed marsh mussel and ribbed horsemussel.[1] However, the common name ribbed mussel is also used for the Southern Hemisphere mussel Aulacomya atra. The appearance of the shell is grooved and oval in shape. The interior of this mussel is tinted purple

Geukensia demissa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Mytilida
Family: Mytilidae
Genus: Geukensia
Species:
G. demissa
Binomial name
Geukensia demissa
(Dillwyn, 1817)
Synonyms

Modiolus demissus (Dillwyn)
Modiola plicatula (Lamarck)
Volsella demissa (Dillwyn)

The ribbed shells of this species usually attain a length of 10 cm length, and can be as large as 13 cm.[1] Age can be determined by counting dark growth rings on the shell and mussels typically live 10 – 15 years, but more advanced ages are not uncommon.[2]

Distribution

The ribbed mussel occurs in the coastal waters of salt marsh habitats from the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence in eastern Canada south along the western Atlantic coast to Florida. In the Gulf of Mexico this species is replaced by the southern ribbed mussel, Geukensia granosissima. Geukensia granosissima and Geukensia demissa hybridize in southern Florida.[3]

The ribbed mussel has been introduced to Texas, Mexico, California, and Venezuela.[1]

Habitat

Ribbed mussels live in the intertidal zone, attached to hard surfaces or embedded in sediment with the help of their byssal threads. They are typically found in salt marshes where they form dense aggregations with the marsh cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) and each other.[4]

Reproduction

Ribbed mussels are dioecious and sexes can only be determined histologically.[5]

They reproduce once per year in Connecticut[5] and South Carolina,[6] however in an introduced population in Venezuela two spawning peaks have been observed.[7]

Mussels >20 mm are typically reproductive, however it is not uncommon for mussels up to 35 mm to have no signs of gametogenesis.[8]

Diet

The ribbed mussel is primarily a filter feeder for the Rhode Island bay area. They help to clean said area of bacteria, parasites, and heavy metals.[9]

References
  1. Geukensia demissa (mollusc) Global Invasive Species Database.
  2. Brousseau, Diane J. (1984-01-01). "Age and Growth Rate Determinations for the Atlantic Ribbed Mussel, Geukensia demissa Dillwyn (Bivalvia: Mytilidae)". Estuaries. 7 (3): 233–241. doi:10.2307/1352143. JSTOR 1352143. S2CID 84772892.
  3. Sarver, S. K.; Landrum, M. C.; Foltz, D. W. (1992). "Genetics and taxonomy of ribbed mussels (Geukensia spp.)". Marine Biology. 113 (3): 385–390. doi:10.1007/BF00349163. ISSN 0025-3162. S2CID 84520218.
  4. Bertness, Mark D.; Grosholz, Edwin (1985-09-01). "Population dynamics of the ribbed mussel, Geukensia demissa: The costs and benefits of an aggregated distribution". Oecologia. 67 (2): 192–204. Bibcode:1985Oecol..67..192B. doi:10.1007/BF00384283. ISSN 0029-8549. PMID 28311308. S2CID 22266054.
  5. Brousseau, Dianna (1982). "Gametogenesis and spawning in a population of Geukensia demissa from Westport ,Connecticut". The Veliger.
  6. Borrero, Francisco J. (1987-08-01). "Tidal Height and Gametogenesis: Reproductive Variation Among Populations of Geukensia Demissa". The Biological Bulletin. 173 (1): 160–168. doi:10.2307/1541869. ISSN 0006-3185. JSTOR 1541869. PMID 29314991.
  7. Báez, M. (2005). "Reproductive cycle of Geukensia demissa (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) on a beach at Nazaret, El Moján, Zulia State, Venezuela". Ciencias Marinas. 31: 111–118. doi:10.7773/cm.v31i11.73. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  8. Franz, David (1996). "Size and age at first reproduction of the ribbed mussel Geukensia demissa in relation to shore level in a New York salt marsh". Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 205: 1–13. doi:10.1016/s0022-0981(96)02607-x.
  9. "Ribbed Mussel".
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