Abstract
DURING an investigation of mussel-fouling in the intake culvert of Brighton ‘B’ Generating Station, deformed specimens of Mytilus edulis were found. Fig. 1 shows some typical examples of the deformities which have occurred; in each case the posterior edges of the valves have diverged to such an extent that even when the valves are closed the siphons are still exposed. Fig. 2 shows specimens in which the valves have diverged and have then grown together again leaving a hump on the shell. Over a period of 10 months 47,450 mussels from the culvert were examined; of these, 2 per cent were or had been deformed in this way. The culvert is a concrete tunnel, 10 ft. square in section, through which water is pumped directly from the sea. The salinity of this water varies between 27 and 31 per thousand. The velocity varies between 0 and 8 ft./sec. and the depth from 4 to 8 ft. Mussels showing the same deformity have also been found in an intake culvert at Marchwood Generating Station.
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WHITE, W. Deformed Mussels from Power Station Culverts. Nature 198, 807 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1038/198807a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/198807a0
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