Does the Clam Mya truncata Regenerate Its Siphon after Predation by Walrus? An Experimental Approach

Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) prey extensively on the bivalve Mya truncata, removing the siphons. We performed a simple experiment whereby the siphons from 27 M. truncata were removed, 33 controls were left intact, and the clams left on the sea bottom for a year. All the damaged Mya died; all but 2 con...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:ARCTIC
Main Authors: Welch, Harold E., Martin-Bergmann, Kathleen
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: The Arctic Institute of North America 1990
Subjects:
Arctic
benthos
bivalves
walrus
Mya truncuta
energetics
Arctique
bivalve
morse
Mya truncutu
énergétique
Morse
Arctique*
Odobenus rosmarus
walrus*
Online Access:https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/64660
Description
Summary:Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) prey extensively on the bivalve Mya truncata, removing the siphons. We performed a simple experiment whereby the siphons from 27 M. truncata were removed, 33 controls were left intact, and the clams left on the sea bottom for a year. All the damaged Mya died; all but 2 controls lived. We conclude that M. truncata whose siphons have been grazed by walrus die, leaving over half the clam to predators or scavengers.

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