Morphology and ecology of bivalve molluscs from Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica
Bivalve species were collected from shallow coastal areas of King George Island (Martel, Mackellar and Ezcurra Inlets of Admiralty Bay). Twenty one species belonging to 16 genera and 12 families were identified and their morphometric and morphological shell characteristics were described. Three main...
| Published in: | Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology |
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| Main Authors: | , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Instituto de Tecnologia do Paraná (Tecpar)
1998
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-89131998000400008 https://doaj.org/article/3af209d6a54f45519991d2f98d59a465 |
| Summary: | Bivalve species were collected from shallow coastal areas of King George Island (Martel, Mackellar and Ezcurra Inlets of Admiralty Bay). Twenty one species belonging to 16 genera and 12 families were identified and their morphometric and morphological shell characteristics were described. Three main characteristics were found to be common to the majority of the bivalve species sampled: 1) thin fragile shells; 2) small size of individuals (76%), and 3) the lack of true cardinal teeth (72%). Comparison of calcium data from a tropical estuary and a subantarctic coastal shallow area suggested that the calcium in the sea water was not a constraint to shell building but shell thickness could be an adaptation to the efficiency of energy partitioning. Small individual size and the lack of true cardinal teeth are discussed in relation to a high deposition environment and widespread mud bottoms. Espécies de bivalves foram coletadas na região costeira rasa da Ilha Rei George (Enseadas Martel, Mackellar e Ezcurra da Baía do Almirantado). Vinte e uma espécies pertencentes a 16 gêneros e 12 famílias foram identificadas e as caractrísticas morfológicas e morfométricas das conchas descritas. Destacaram-se 3 características principais comuns à maioria das espécies: 1) conchas finas e frágeis; 2) pequeno tamanho dos indivíduos (76%), e 3) a ausência de dentes cardinais (72%). A comparação entre os dados de cálcio de um estuário tropical e uma região rasa costeira subantártica sugeriu que os valores de cálcio na água do mar não seriam uma restrição à formação das conchas, mas a espessura das conchas poderia ser uma adaptação à eficiência na distribuição da energia. Discute-se a ausência de dentes cardinais e pequeno tamanho dos indivíduos em ralação a um ambiente de alta deposição e abundância de fundos lodosos. |
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