Survey of metazoan symbionts of Mytilus edulis (Mollusca : Pelecypoda) in southern Australia

Abstract

A survey of both wild and cultured mussels in southern Australia was conducted to determine what parasites and/or symbionts harmful to mussel farming existed. A pea crab (Pinnotheres hickmani), four species of copepod (Pseudomyicola spinosis, Lichomolgus uncus, Myicola spp.), two larval trematodes (Cercaria praecox, Gymnophallus sp.) and several species of polydorid polychaete (Polydora haswelli, Polydora hoplura, Polydora websteri, Boccardia chilensis, Boccardia polybranchia) were found. There is evidence that P. hickmani prefers, and that Gymnophallus sp. is restricted to, colder water, that P. spinosus prefers warmer water and that polydorids prefer muddy or silty areas and are more abundant closer to the bottom of the waterbody, as is P. spinosus. Cultivated mussels are generally less infected due to their distance from the bottom of the waterbody and length of time in the water.