Some Aspects of the Ecology of a Bivalve Mollusk in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii

• Main Author: Higgins, John H.
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: University of Hawai'i, Honolulu 1969
• Subjects: Clams; Marine ecology > Hawaii > Kaneohe Bay; Kaneohe Bay (Hawaii); Kay; Pacific; Venus; Crassostrea gigas
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10125/15321

Typescript. Bibliography: leaves 46-47. The bivalve, Tapes philippinarum Adams and Reeve, 1867, was introduced. in Hawaii around 1900 (Bryan, 1918). The clam originally came from Japan where, according to Cahn (1951), it is one of the most important commercial species of shellfish. It is cultured in bays throughout Japan, Korea, and the Philippines. T-apes was accidentally introduced to the Pacific coast of North America when Japanese oysters, Crassostrea gigas, were brought there early in the century (Bonnot, 1935). The clam spread rapidly and is now one of the more important commercial clams there. Tapes philippinarum is a member of the family Veneridae and appears in the literature under a variety of names including T. semidecussata Adams and Reeve 1864, and T. japonica Deshayes, 1853. Various generic names are also applied: Venerupis, Venus, Ruditapes and Paphia. The clam has been identified for me as Tapes philippinarum by Dr. E. A. Kay, who compared Hawaiian shells with type material at the British Museum (Natural History) and will be so called throughout this paper. A common name, the Japanese littleneck clam, is almost universally accepted; "Asari" is the Japanese name. The most extensive work concerning life history and ecology of Tapes was done by Cahn (1951) who summarizes the Japanese literature. Its natural history and shell pattern were described by Shaw (1950). Other references are limited to mention of its first appearance on the Pacific Coast (Keen, 1947; Kincaid, 1947a, 1947b; Neave, 1944). After its introduction to Hawaii the clam apparently spread rapidly in shallow bays on Oahu and was used extensively as food. Bryan (1918) reported that it became well established in the Kalihi and Moanalua mud-flats. Ostergaard, (1930) and Dall, (1938) confirmed its successful establishment. Edmondson, (1946) also stated that after its introduction, Tapes philippinarum multiplied rapidly in shallow bays about Oahu and was common in Honolulu fish markets. Distribution of Tapes throughout the islands ...