Modelling the impact of two intertidal primary consumer mollusc species on microphytobenthic biomass

Abstract

As many marine intertidal benthic primary consumers are relatively small in body size, their individual impact on the environment is generally negligible. The combined influence of the extremely high numbers of individuals that can occur in certain habitats can have very significant impacts on their surroundings however. This study examined the potential impact of two dominant primary consumers on the primary productivity at two contrasting intertidal soft sediments habitats in Dublin Bay. Differences in sediment grain size, physical exposure and resultant primary production were recorded between sites.