Combined effects of climate change stressors and predators with contrasting feeding-digestion strategies on a mussel species

Mussels exposed to starfish non-consumptive effects exhibited smaller wet mass than control mussels.

• Combined exposure to ocean warming, acidification, and predator cues may negatively impact mussel growth and health.
• Mussels under the influence of both starfish and snail predator cues showed reduced growth in length and buoyant weight.
• Increased oxygen consumption in mussels was observed with ocean warming and starfish predator cues, either alone or together with snail cues.
• Byssal biogenesis, the process of producing the threads that anchor mussels, was affected by the interaction of all three factors.
• Clearance rates of mussels were influenced by the interaction of ocean warming and acidification.

AI simplified