Interactive effects of temperature and food availability on the growth of Arctica islandica (Bivalvia) juveniles

Irene Ballesta-Artero; Reneé Janssen; Jaap van der Meer; Rob Witbaard

doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.12.004

Interactive effects of temperature and food availability on the growth of Arctica islandica (Bivalvia) juveniles

Mar Environ Res. 2018 Feb:133:67-77. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.12.004. Epub 2017 Dec 6.

Authors

Irene Ballesta-Artero¹, Reneé Janssen², Jaap van der Meer³, Rob Witbaard⁴

Affiliations

¹ NIOZ, Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and Utrecht University, Department of Coastal Systems, PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands; NIOZ, Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and Utrecht University, Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, PO Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, The Netherlands; Department of Animal Ecology, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: irene.ballesta.artero@nioz.nl.
² Helicon MBO Den Bosch, Postbus 2279, 5202 CG 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.
³ NIOZ, Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and Utrecht University, Department of Coastal Systems, PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands; Department of Animal Ecology, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
⁴ NIOZ, Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and Utrecht University, Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, PO Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, The Netherlands.

PMID: 29233602
DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.12.004

Abstract

The interest in Arctica islandica growth biology has recently increased due to the widespread use of its shell as a bioarchive. Although temperature and food availability are considered key factors in its growth, their combined influence has not been studied so far under laboratory conditions. We tested the interactive effect of temperature and food availability on the shell and tissue growth of A. islandica juveniles (9-15 mm in height) in a multi-factorial experiment with four food levels (no food, low, medium, and high) and three different temperatures (3, 8, 13 °C). Shell and tissue growth were observed in all treatments, with significant differences occurring only among food levels (2-way ANOVA; P-value < 0.05). Siphon activity (% open siphons), however, was affected by temperature, food, and the interaction between them (2-way ANOVA; P-value < 0.05). Siphon observations, as indication of feeding activities, played a key role to better understand the growth variation between individuals.

Keywords: Bivalve; Phytoplankton concentration; Sclerochronology; Shell and tissue growth; Siphon activity; Temperature.

MeSH terms

Animals
Bivalvia / growth & development*
Food*
Temperature*