Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881.
Integr Comp Biol. 2002 Aug;42(4):846-52. doi: 10.1093/icb/42.4.846.
One aspect of the physiological ecology of intertidal organisms is their mechanical design, which can be explored at many hierarchical levels, from molecules to ecosystems. Mechanical structures, as with any other physiological feature, require energy to construct and maintain, are subject to manufacturing and evolutionary constraints, and influence ecological performance. This contribution focuses on the ecomechanics of mussel attachment, which contributes to the competitive dominance of mussels on many wave-swept shores. Examples are presented to illustrate the hierarchical nature of mussel attachment, how levels of the hierarchy are interrelated, and where gaps in our knowledge remain. For example, water motion generates forces that mechanically deform byssal threads, but may also enhance the rate at which threads subsequently restore their original toughness. Furthermore, the ability of mussels to sense and respond to changes in their flow environment by producing a stronger attachment may be subject to physiological constraints, which in turn may have important consequences for the ecological response of mussels to shifts in wave climate. Thus an integrative approach to the study of byssal attachment is needed to fully understand this important aspect of the physiological ecology of mussels on rocky intertidal shores.
潮间带生物生理生态学的一个方面是它们的机械设计，可以在许多层次上进行探索，从分子到生态系统。机械结构与任何其他生理特征一样，需要能量来构建和维持，受到制造和进化的限制，并影响生态性能。本贡献重点介绍贻贝附着的生态力学，这有助于贻贝在许多波浪冲刷的海岸上的竞争优势。本文通过实例说明了贻贝附着的层次性，以及层次之间的相互关系，以及我们知识的空白仍然存在。例如，水的运动会产生力，使贻贝的足丝机械变形，但也可能会增强足丝随后恢复其原始韧性的速度。此外，贻贝通过产生更强的附着来感知和响应其流动环境变化的能力可能受到生理限制的影响，这反过来又可能对贻贝对波浪气候变化的生态反应产生重要影响。因此，需要采用综合方法来研究贻贝的足丝附着，以充分了解贻贝在岩石潮间带的生理生态学的重要方面。
