What is all black stuff on bottom???

[reefseal]

Dove off buds beach house in Plymouth, just north of Ellisville Harbor state park. First time of season. Immediately noticed entire bottom covered with what looked like tiny little black muscles. It reminded me of zebra muscles you see in St. Lawrence Seaway but smaller (smaller than grain of rice) They were everyone and on anything. Old pots, lines, sand, rocks. What is going on?? Is it some infestation of evasive species??? Anyone can explain?? They finally stop at the sandy area though there are some on Sand.

 

[Mr.X]

Sounds like a population boom! Could be localized. Need to take some macro shots for us zoologists! If not, by the end of summer they should have put on a mm(s) of growth?

 

[reefseal]

I didn't have an UW camera or would. I promise next dive will bring up some shells etc,. with the stuff on it to take pictures topside.
I'm surprised you're the only one that responded!

 

[Mr.X]

I am sure some other zoology-minded folks will jump in. The interesting part of this possible mussel boom is that historical records of 'olde' Plimouth' discuss how the pilgrims collected mussels.

Personally, I would dive the area because I love stuff like this - but stuck out of state doing work.

Cheers,

X

 

[AfterDark]

I’ve seen population of mussels like that here in the fall. Great numbers of them were clinging to anything including each other. They formed huge cave like structures that a diver could swim into around and out a different opening. It was very cool.

 

[reefseal]

I honestly think these were muscles. They were so teeny tiny (smaller than grain of rice)