rketing. Mussels concentrate hydrocarbons in their tissues. The hydro carbons are rapidly taken up by the gill tissues and eventually deposited in high concentrations in alimentary canal. Although oil is the only slightly toxic to mussels it may affect the marketing of the animals by tainting fuel, oil, and outboard motor oil may inhibit byssal thread formation.Problems associated with culturing the mussel for food are seasonal closures caused by pollution and Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP). No mussels can be sold for human consumption from May 1st to October 31st because of the presence of PSP. The consumption of the mussels that have been concentrated large amounts of poison- producing microscopic Dinoflagellate Gonyaulax Catenella sometimes causes serious illness.In my observations at Royal Palms, Mytilus Californianus seemed to flourish most on wave-swept rocks along the shore. There were however, many M. Californianus’ shells where they may once populated or washed up on during a higher tide, but eventually dried out due to the lack of organisms they usually feed on. Since they feed on a variety of organisms and on the detritus of plants and animals. Colonies of mussels are most abundant on rocks closer to the water where the population of these organisms on which they feed on are dense. ...
