Topic
Macoma
About: Macoma is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 202 publications have been published within this topic receiving 7318 citations.
Papers published on a yearly basis
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Papers
TL;DR: A conceptual model detailing the relative importance of behavior, morphology, habitat features, and the basic components of predator–prey interactions to the survival of bivalve molluscs is developed and intended to be used as a heuristic tool to develop testable hypotheses.
Abstract: The persistence of prey encountering intense predation varies by species, prey density, and habitat type; however, the collective impact of these factors has rarely been tested experimentally in natural marine systems. Using the thin-shelled clams Mya arenaria and Macoma balthica as prey, and the main epibenthic predator of whole adult clams, the blue crab Callinectes sapidus, we conducted a series of experiments in Chesapeake Bay tributaries that (1) links field abundance and distribution of bivalve prey species with habitat-specific mortality patterns; (2) represents the first comprehensive field test of species-specific, habitat-specific, and density-dependent mortality for subtidal, soft-bottom, deep-burrowing prey; and (3) thereby enables development of a conceptual model to be used as a heuristic tool linking predator–prey dynamics, habitat type, and evolutionary defense tactics for marine benthos.
In 15 years of field monitoring, Mya was more common in sand than mud habitats, and Macoma was widely distributed and at higher densities than Mya in mud and sand. In field experiments, mortality of both Mya and Macoma was density dependent in those habitats where the clams are common. The blue crab population in the field exhibited a type III “guild functional response” on Mya in sand, and on Macoma in both mud and sand. Mortality was lower in sand than mud for Mya, and similar in mud and sand for Macoma, correlating with the high abundances of Mya in sand and Macoma in sand and mud. The persistence of large juvenile and adult bivalves when confronted with intense predation derived substantially from a low-density refuge from predation that varied in a species-specific manner with habitat type, demonstrating the species-specific importance of density and habitat to clam survival.
We developed a conceptual model detailing the relative importance of behavior, morphology, habitat features, and the basic components of predator–prey interactions to the survival of bivalve molluscs. At one extreme are bivalve molluscs, such as oysters, that emphasize morphological refuges that increase the predator's handling time. At the other extreme are bivalves, such as Mya and Macoma, that reduce predator encounter rates. The model is intended to be used as a heuristic tool to develop testable hypotheses.
225 citations
TL;DR: The spatial distributon of knots feeding on the intertidal flats around Griend was best explained by the harvestable biomass of the prevalent prey species in a particular year and season, i.e. Macoma balthica was the preferred prey of both subspecies.
222 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors show that the growth rate of Macoma balthica clams is density dependent in the sandy sediment, but no such effect could be demonstrated for clams in the muddy sediment.
Abstract: SUMMARY (1) Levinton's hypothesis that populations in deposit-feeding communities are more often food-limited than those in filter-feeding communities was field tested using exclusion cages. (2) Densities of the bivalve, Macoma balthica, were varied experimentally in a sublittoral, exposed, sandy sediment and a sublittoral, sheltered, muddy, sand sediment. Densities varied from 0.25 to 4.0 x natural levels in the muddy, sand sediment and from 0.5 to 4.0 x natural levels in the sand sediment. The growth rates of individually marked (3) Macoma clams from the muddy sand sediment showed deposit-feeding in aquaria under simulated field conditions whereas clams from the sandy sediment were filter-feeding. Field experimental data also demonstrated that deposit-feeding predominated in the muddy sand sediment and suspension-feeding in the sand sediment. (4) The field experiments showed that growth of clams was density dependent in the muddy sand sediment, but no such effect could be demonstrated for clams in the sandy sediment. SUMMARY (1) Levinton's hypothesis that populations in deposit-feeding communities are more often food-limited than those in filter-feeding communities was field tested using exclusion cages. (2) Densities of the bivalve, Macoma balthica, were varied experimentally in a sublittoral, exposed, sandy sediment and a sublittoral, sheltered, muddy, sand sediment. Densities varied from 0.25 to 4.0 x natural levels in the muddy, sand sediment and from 0.5 to 4.0 x natural levels in the sand sediment. The growth rates of individually marked clams from each treatment were then measured. (3) Macoma clams from the muddy sand sediment showed deposit-feeding in aquaria under simulated field conditions whereas clams from the sandy sediment were filter-feeding. Field experimental data also demonstrated that deposit-feeding predominated in the muddy sand sediment and suspension-feeding in the sand sediment. (4) The field experiments showed that growth of clams was density dependent in the muddy sand sediment, but no such effect could be demonstrated for clams in the sandy sediment. SUMMARY (1) Levinton's hypothesis that populations in deposit-feeding communities are more often food-limited than those in filter-feeding communities was field tested using exclusion cages. (2) Densities of the bivalve, Macoma balthica, were varied experimentally in a sublittoral, exposed, sandy sediment and a sublittoral, sheltered, muddy, sand sediment. Densities varied from 0.25 to 4.0 x natural levels in the muddy, sand sediment and from 0.5 to 4.0 x natural levels in the sand sediment. The growth rates of individually marked SUMMARY (1) Levinton's hypothesis that populations in deposit-feeding communities are more often food-limited than those in filter-feeding communities was field tested using exclusion cages. (2) Densities of the bivalve, Macoma balthica, were varied experimentally in a sublittoral, exposed, sandy sediment and a sublittoral, sheltered, muddy, sand sediment. Densities varied from 0.25 to 4.0 x natural levels in the muddy, sand sediment and from 0.5 to 4.0 x natural levels in the sand sediment. The growth rates of individually marked clams from each treatment were then measured. (3) Macoma clams from the muddy sand sediment showed deposit-feeding in aquaria under simulated field conditions whereas clams from the sandy sediment were filter-feeding. Field experimental data also demonstrated that deposit-feeding predominated in the muddy sand sediment and suspension-feeding in the sand sediment. (4) The field experiments showed that growth of clams was density dependent in the muddy sand sediment, but no such effect could be demonstrated for clams in the sandy sediment.
217 citations
TL;DR: Fatty acids were found in considerable amounts in the bivalve Ax~nopsida orbiculata, as well as in E pseudoquinquesernita, Psolus sp and P. hyperborea; hence it was concluded that there was a substantial bacterial input into the food of these species.
Abstract: The contribution of different food sources in the food web of a shallow-water hydrothermal ecosystem was estimated using fatty acids as markers. The markers were selected based on the results of analyzing the fatty acid composition of potential food sources in Kraternaya Right, Yankich Island, Kurile Islands. Most animals had markers characteristic of diatoms: the 16:0/16:1m? ratio close to 1 and a high 20:503 content. We assume that the bivalves Macoma calcared and Macoma lukini, polychaetes Amphitrite cirrata and Pectinaria hyperborea, and holothurians Eupentacta pseudoquinquesemita and Psolus sp. feed mainly on diatoms. Fatty a c ~ d s pecific to bacteria branched, odd and 18:lw7 -were found in considerable amounts in the bivalve Ax~nopsida orbiculata, as well as in E pseudoquinquesernita, Psolus sp and P. hyperborea; hence we concluded that there was a substantial bacterial input into the food of these species. A high concentrat~on of C,, and PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids), suggested to be an indicator of brown algae, was detected merely in the gastropod Littorina kurila. Although bactena are more important as a food source in Kraternaya Bight than In typical coastal ecosystems, the major food source for animals here is photosynthetic organisms, rather than chernosynthetic symbionts as is the case with deep-sea hydrothermal vents.
173 citations
TL;DR: There was, however, a highly significant difference in population size structure for Corophium, and measurements of sediment redox potential and silt content under medium- and high-density plots revealed rapid anoxia with a significant increase in siltation.
Abstract: A field experiment was carried out whereby the density of macroalgae ( Enteromorpha spp.) was manipulated and the resultant changes in sediment infaunal density were monitored. Four densities of Enteromorpha spp. were used: 0,0·3, 1, and 3 kg FW m −2 , corresponding to control, low-, medium-, and high-density plots. The experiment ran from May to October 1985 and was sampled on three occasions. By July, the density of Corophium volutator was reduced at all weed levels when compared to control plots, whereas densities of Hydrobia ulvae , Macoma balthica, Nereis diversicolor , and Capitella capitata , all increased. Samples taken in October when the weed mats were buried in the sediment showed fewer differences than in July. Macoma, Nereis , and Capitella were still significantly more abundant at medium and high weed densities. Corophium showed no significant treatment effect. There was, however, a highly significant difference in population size structure for Corophium . Measurements of sediment redox potential and silt content under medium- and high-density plots revealed rapid anoxia with a significant increase in siltation.
172 citations
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Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2015 | 1 |