Blue Mussels

The native California Mussel (Mytilus californianus) thrives in high salinity, and low sediment conditions. They live in large colonies that perform similar ecosystem services as oysters by filtering sediment and recycling nutrients for the entire wetland community. They feed on plankton and are predated by sea stars.

In wetland ecosystems, the abundance of available nutrients provides for extreme biodiversity, meaning that there are many different species present in these habitats. As such, wetlands are important fisheries for shellfish and bony fish alike, providing jobs and food for people in local communities. Despite the economic and ecological value of these ecosystems, over 90% of the Bay’s wetlands have been destroyed in the interest of urban development. Save the Bay and many other organizations continue to work tirelessly on conservation projects geared towards wetland restoration, and over time we could see these important fisheries and biodiversity hot spots spring back to life.