ARCTIC Does the Clam Mya truncata Regenerate Its Siphon after Predation by Walrus? An Experimental Approach
ABSTRACT. Walrus (Odobenus rosmurus) prey extensively on the bivalve Myu truncutu, removing the siphons. We performed a simple experiment whereby the siphons from 2 7 M. huncata were removed, 33 controls were left intact, and the clams left on the sea bottom for a year. All the damaged Myu died; all...
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Format: | Text |
Language: | English |
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1989
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Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.554.9713 http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic43-2-157.pdf |
Summary: | ABSTRACT. Walrus (Odobenus rosmurus) prey extensively on the bivalve Myu truncutu, removing the siphons. We performed a simple experiment whereby the siphons from 2 7 M. huncata were removed, 33 controls were left intact, and the clams left on the sea bottom for a year. All the damaged Myu died; all but 2 controls lived. We conclude that M. truncutu whosesiphons have been grazed by walrus die, leaving over half the clam to predators or scavengers. Key words: Arctic, benthos, bivalves, walrus, Mya truncuta, energetics RkXJM6. Les morses (Odobenus rosmrus) se nourrissent en grande partie d bivalves de l'eswe Myu truncatu, en lui enlevant ses siphons. On s'est livré B une expérience relativement simple dans laquelle on a enlevé les siphons de 27 Mya truncatu, et laissé intacts 33 spécimens de contrôle. On a ensuite dépose les myes sur le fond marin. Au bout d'un an, aucune des Mya endommagées n'avait survécu alors que toutes les myes de contrôle sauf deux étaient encore vivantes. O n en conclut que les Mya truncutu dont les siphons ont étte broutés par les morses ne survivent pas et que plus de la moitié de coquillage est laissée en pâture aux prédateurs et aux animaux nécrophages. |
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