Estimating California mussel (Mytilus californianus) size from hinge fragments: a methodological application in historical ecology

A Test of Ideal Free Distribution Predictions Using Targeted Survey and Excavation on California’s Northern Channel Islands

“…Lastly, we estimated the size of M. californianus shells using the equation relating umbo thickness to shell length presented in ; see also Campbell and Braje 2015):…”

Measuring Mytilus californianus: an Addendum to Campbell and Braje (2015) and Singh and McKechnie (2015) including commentary and an integration of data

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This JAS issue includes two articles that address the same methodological topic: estimating California mussel (Mytilus californianus) shell sizes from umbo fragments (Campbell and Braje, 2015;Singh and McKechnie, 2015). The coincidental submission and acceptance of these articles in the same journal, featuring a very similar methodological approach specific to the Pacific Coast of North America, was a surprise unbeknownst to the authors.

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“…Noticing this synchronicity, the authors subsequently contacted each other and requested their articles appear in the same issue. In this addendum we provide a brief commentary on our independent observations about estimating California mussel shell length from fragmentary remains, integrate a component of the method, and comment on future research directions.Both Campbell and Braje (2015) and Singh and McKechnie (2015) present a regression-based approach for estimating total shell length that enables a more refined size estimate than existing classification methods (e.g., Whitaker, 2008) and increases the interpretive potential for this ubiquitous shellfish beyond an 'ordinal scale' typical of zooarchaeological abundance data (Wolverton et al, 2014). Campbell and Braje generate three strong regressions based on a modern sample of 135 M. californianus obtained from a single intertidal location in San Diego, California, representing a relatively narrow shell size range (2e9 cm).…”

“…Both Campbell and Braje (2015) and Singh and McKechnie (2015) present a regression-based approach for estimating total shell length that enables a more refined size estimate than existing classification methods (e.g., Whitaker, 2008) and increases the interpretive potential for this ubiquitous shellfish beyond an 'ordinal scale' typical of zooarchaeological abundance data (Wolverton et al, 2014). Campbell and Braje generate three strong regressions based on a modern sample of 135 M. californianus obtained from a single intertidal location in San Diego, California, representing a relatively narrow shell size range (2e9 cm).…”

“…2). Interested researchers can access these data in the supplemental online materials associated with Singh and McKechnie (2015) and for Campbell and Braje (2015) in the file associated with this addendum (see supplementary data).…”