Across-shelf distribution of bluemussel larvae in the northern Gulf of Maine

Abstract

Studies of population connectivity have largely focused on along-shelf, as opposed to across-shelf, processes. We hypothesized that a discontinuity in across-shelf mixing caused by the divergence of the Eastern Maine Coastal Current (EMCC) from shore acts as an ecological barrier to the supply of mussel larvae to the coast. Existing data on the relative abundance of two congeneric blue mussels,Mytilus edulisand M. trossulus, were analysed to quantify the association of M. trossuluswith the colder temperature signal of the EMCC and generate larval distribution predictions.