Organism
Mussels
TL;DR
Mussels are competitive dominants in rocky intertidal zones.
Mussels are competitive dominants in rocky intertidal zones. Without predation by Pisaster starfish, mussels grow explosively and smother rock surfaces, outcompeting barnacles, shading out algae, and eliminating habitat for limpets and chitons. In Paine's experiment, removal of the keystone predator allowed mussels to monopolize the ecosystem, reducing diversity from 15 species to a monoculture.
Notable Traits of Mussels
- Competitive dominant
- Controlled by keystone predation
- Monopolizes resources when unchecked