Mussels form extensive beds in rocky intertidal habitats on temperate seashores worldwide. They are foundation species because their beds host many invertebrates. Mussels and their associated species differ taxonomically among biogeographic regions, but all mussel beds exhibit similar structural and functional properties. Therefore, we investigated if rocky-intertidal mussel beds from around the globe host associated communities that are functionally similar despite their underlying taxonomic differences. We gathered datasets on the abundance of invertebrates found in rocky-intertidal mussel beds from the eastern and western boundaries of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans from both hemispheres and, then, we compared their taxonomic and functional properties. Taxonomic composition differed markedly among coasts when analyzed at the taxonomic resolution reported by the surveys (often species). However, taxonomic groups with similar ecologies (28 groups including barnacles, decapods, gastropods, polychaetes, etc.) were more universally present in mussel beds. Concomitantly, functional categories of trophic level, body type, and mobility were almost always present on all studied coasts. These taxonomic groups and trait categories, however, showed regional patterns based on their relative abundances. Overall, the ability of mussel beds to host a core community type based on taxonomic groups and functional traits emphasizes their importance for biodiversity and community functioning, making them critical organisms to preserve.

贻贝在世界各地温带海岸的岩石潮间带栖息地形成广阔的床。它们是基础物种，因为它们的床里栖息着许多无脊椎动物。贻贝及其相关物种在生物地理区域的分类学上有所不同，但所有贻贝床都表现出相似的结构和功能特性。因此，我们调查了来自全球各地的岩石潮间带贻贝床是否存在相关群落，这些群落尽管存在潜在的分类差异，但功能相似。我们收集了太平洋和大西洋两个半球东部和西部边界的岩石潮间带贻贝床中发现的无脊椎动物丰度的数据集，然后比较了它们的分类和功能特性。根据调查报告的分类分辨率（通常是物种）进行分析时，沿海地区的分类组成存在显着差异。然而，具有相似生态的分类群（包括藤壶、十足目、腹足类、多毛类等28个类群）更普遍地存在于贻贝床中。与此同时，营养级、体型和流动性的功能类别几乎总是存在于所有研究的海岸上。然而，这些分类群和性状类别根据其相对丰度显示出区域模式。总体而言，贻贝床拥有基于分类群和功能特征的核心群落类型的能力强调了它们对生物多样性和群落功能的重要性，使它们成为需要保护的关键生物体。