Clam energilagringsmateriale

Why are giant clams important?

Giant clams increase the topographic heterogeneity of the reef, act as reservoirs of zooxanthellae (Symbiodinium spp.), and also potentially counteract eutrophication via water filtering. Finally, dense populations of giant clams produce large quantities of calcium carbonate shell material that are eventually incorporated into the reef framework.

Are giant clams iridescent?

Giant clams’ iridescent insides form a powerful system for taking in sunlight. In the tropical reefs off Palau, an island chain east of the Philippines, lie what at first glimpse look like unremarkable (albeit huge) shallow-water clams in the genus Tridacna.

Why do giant clams eat tridacnines?

Giant clams provide their symbiotic Symbiodinium with nutrients and protection, resulting in tridacnines acting as algal ‘reservoirs’. They also filter large volumes of water—which can potentially counteract eutrophication.

Do clams inflate and deflate during the day?

In the new study, the researchers resolved this discrepancy by factoring in a quirk of clam behavior: there is evidence that clams might inflate and deflate their mantle throughout the day. This could let the clams further optimize their sunlight exposure, the scientists determined—allowing them to clock in at a modeled 67 percent efficiency.

Do clams inflate and deflate their mantle?

Yet previous measurements of these clams in the wild put their comparable efficiency even higher, at more than 60 percent. In the new study, the researchers resolved this discrepancy by factoring in a quirk of clam behavior: there is evidence that clams might inflate and deflate their mantle throughout the day.

Are giant clams mixotrophic?

Giant clams are mixotrophic (Jantzen et al., 2008), being capable of generating biomass through both primary and secondary production. Primary production is controlled by the photosynthetic efficiency of their symbiotic photoautotrophic zooxanthellae (Jantzen et al., 2008, Yau and Fan, 2012).