Effects of ribbed mussel aggregation size on marsh invertebrate community structure and multiple eocsystem functions

Ribbed mussels (Geukensia demissa) were added in aggregations containing 0, 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 40 or 80 mussels (N=3 replicates per aggregation size) in Spring of 2012 in a high marsh platform at the Airport Marsh on Sapelo Island, GA. In summer of 2013, we measured the response of invertebrate communities and six ecosystem functions. Specifically, we counted the number of Littoraria irrorata, Sesarma reticulatum burrows, Uca pugnax burrows (those > and <5mm in diameter were counted separately), and mud crab (Eurythium limosum and Panopeus herbstii) in 50cm x 50cm sampling frames. And, we measured aboveground cordgrass biomass, benthic algae biomass, invertebrate biomass, decomposition rate, infiltration rate, and soil accretion in the same size sampling frames in August of 2013.