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43.8964, 10.2211

Field Notes

Description:

This appears to be a malformed crustacean in the mussel family. The beaches of Versilia were filled with a large scall die off of these organisms just a couple of weeks ago, which raises many questions about possible causes.

Habitat:

Foreshore of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Notes:

The first question that comes to my mind is whether or not these crustaceans are having problems forming viable shells due to increased acidity of the seawater. Without in depth studies any conclusion would be premature, but there seems to be no natural cause to this die off and deformities.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (2)
Bruce Weiskotten
Apparently, a hazard materials spill happened off the coast of La Gorgona in the nearby Tuscan Archipelago just a few months before the die off of these crustaceans. I have no direct evidence that the two events are related; however, some 100 barrels of highly toxic waste were lost at sea and efforts to find and recover them have come to naught.
Bruce Weiskotten
I've talked with a woman who has a degree in marine biology about this phenomenon. While she hasn't examined any examples she believes that these are a different species of mollusk from the Mediterranean mussel, but could not identify it specifically. I have still heard no explanation for the considerably large die-off.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Burlamacca and Lago Massaciuccoli

Tags

Photographed
PublishedMay 12, 2012

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