Title:

Put Some Mussel into It: Examining the Role of Ribbed Mussels (Geukensia demissa) in the Restoration of New England Salt Marshes

Ribbed mussels (Geukensia demissa) are an integral part of the saltmarsh platform, forming a facultative relationship with smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora). Attached to the stem base using byssal threads, this filter feeder deposits nutrients and sediments contributing to vegetation growth and vertical accretion. While G. demissa can be found in the high marsh, they are usually found along the edges of the low marsh such as along tidal creeks and ditches. A century of intense mosquito control has created a parallel network of deep channels or ditches in over 90% of New England’s salt marshes. Increased oxygen exposure stimulates peat subsidence through organic matter decomposition. In some cases, this subsidence can create a depression large enough to connect multiple ditches. The objective of this study is to examine to how the presence of G. demissa can affect stability, sedimentation, and revegetation in heavily ditched marshes in Northern New England. Given that these mussels cultivate S. alterniflora growth, facilitate sedimentation, and stabilize soils, I hypothesize that ditches with G. demissa will be shallower and have reduced peat subsidence relative to ditches without. Furthermore, I hypothesize that G. demissa could be used to enhance current management methods, especially when paired with S. alterniflora plugs.

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