Abstract:

The Stylochid flatworm, Imogine mcgrathi (Jennings and Newman 1996), was found to be a predator of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. These flatworms consumed mussels at a rate of 0.032 individuals·day-1 or 12.6 mg·day-1 in laboratory trials and occurred at densities as great as 386 m-1 of mussel culture rope in Twofold Bay. I. mcgrathi has previously been found to be a predator of the oyster, Pinctada imbricata. In this study, I. mcgrathi collected from mussel ropes restricted their predation solely to mussels when offered oysters and mussels of the same size as food source. When offered only P. imbricata, these same I. mcgrathi appeared incapable of eating the oysters. I. mcgrathi have the potential to pose a significant threat to mussel culture and their abundance in culture warrants careful scrutiny.

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Date 2003/06/01

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