engleski

Energy status snapshot of three Mediterranean soft bottom bivalve species

The present study investigated physiological status of three common soft bottom bivalve species at 20°C in order to evaluate their energy available for growth and reproduction. Ruditapes decussatus, Cerastoderma glaucum and Chamelea gallina, although with different distribution range, inhabit Mediterranean sand shallow waters. Species were sampled in June 2009, from different sites ; C. glaucum from Stagnone di Marsala Lagoon (Italy), R. decussates from Lagoon of Goro (Italy) and C. gallina from Neretva river estuary (Croatia), after which they were transported to laboratory and acclimatized for 2 weeks. Clearance rates, respiration rates, absorption efficiency and excretion rates were assessed through the physiological energetic in terms of the energy budget and scope for growth (SFG). Under the same experimental conditions, these bivalves showed significant differences in their physiological performances. C. glaucum had the highest value of clearance rate (0.93 L h-1 g-1) while R. decussates had the highest respiration rate value (1.29 μmol h-1 g-1). C. gallina had the lowest physiological performances, which supports previous findings that this species has generally low wellbeing. SFG was significantly different between all three species, C. glaucum with the highest value (18.06 J h-1 g-1) and C. gallina with the lowest value (1.69 J h-1 g-1). Differences between SFG of these 3 bivalves gave us a steady – state snapshot of their instantaneous energy status and their potential behaviour in energy allocation under particular environmental conditions, which is the insurance of stable population and its persistence over time.

Ruditapes decussatus; Cerastoderma glaucum; Chamelea gallina; Mediterranean; Scope for growth

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