Abundance distribution patterns of intertidal bivalvesMacoma balthicaandCerastoderma eduleat the Murman coast tidal flats (the Barents Sea)

Abstract

Density distribution of the common infaunal bivalves, Macoma balthica and Cerastoderma edule, was studied along the Murman Coast of the Barents Sea during 2002–2010. In both species, abundance was generally higher in West Murman in contrast to East Murman. Highest density of Macoma balthica reaching 1535 ind. m−2 was observed in the Kola Inlet. Cerastoderma edule was less abundant; its density rarely exceeded 10 ind. m−2 in all but one site, where 282 ind. m−2 was registered. Reconstruction of abundance distribution across the European geographic range of Macoma balthica revealed that it does not match an ‘abundant-centre’ pattern, having features of ramped north. On the other hand, distribution of Cerastoderma edule abundance across the range generally follows an ‘abundant-centre’ pattern but southern edge populations show relatively higher abundances as compared with those at the north edge (the Barents Sea).

Phylogeography of the temperate marine bivalveCerastoderma edule(Linnaeus, 1758) (Bivalvia: Cardiidae) in the Subarctic: Unique diversity and strong population structuring at different spatial scales

“…In accordance with metapopulation hypothesis, long-term studies and never recovered, while URA and PAL went through drastic fluctuations in size, ranging from a dozen to several hundred individuals (Genelt-Yanovskiy, Poloskin, Granovitch, Nazarova, & Strelkov, 2010;Nazarova, Shunkina, & Genelt-Yanovskiy, 2015;and our unpublished data Unlike the open sea, shallow inlets, affected by terrestrial freshwater runoff, are relatively warm in summer (up to 13°C, Fedorov, 1987).…”

“…Our map of sampling localities (Figure b) well represents the actual distribution of populations within the Murman coast since all of them have been sampled. During a period of annual monitoring from 2003 to 2013, the SHE population, genetically the most polymorphic one, became extinct in 2009 and never recovered, while URA and PAL went through drastic fluctuations in size, ranging from a dozen to several hundred individuals (Genelt‐Yanovskiy, Poloskin, Granovitch, Nazarova, & Strelkov, ; Nazarova, Shunkina, & Genelt‐Yanovskiy, ; and our unpublished data).…”

Mobilisation of data to stakeholder communities. Bridging the research-practice gap using a commercial shellfish species model

“…edule ( Fig 3 ), which also highlighted the regional/local geographic range of stakeholder communities/studies carried out. Cockles were recorded as far as Russia [ 48 , 49 ] and Iceland [ 50 ] in the north, to Senegal in the south [ 14 ]. C .…”

“…All historical records were used to determine the documented distribution of C. edule (Fig 3), which also highlighted the regional/local geographic range of stakeholder communities/studies carried out. Cockles were recorded as far as Russia [48,49] and Iceland [50] in the north, to Senegal in the south [14]. C. edule was reported to be found on the Mediterranean coasts of Spain [51].…”

Weathering the storm

“…We used two bivalve species in the experiment, Cerastoderma edule and Macoma balthica, which are common to the European intertidal (Malham et al 2012, Nazarova et al 2015. Fresh bivalves were collected on a biweekly basis from two mixed sandy beaches, Oesterdam (51.46670, 4.22139) and Rattekaai (51.57077, 4.01629).…”