Age and growth of Glycymeris longior (Sowerby, 1832) clam at the southern edge of its distribution (Argentine Sea)

Abstract

Even though Glycymeris longior is a clam widely distributed in the SW Atlantic Ocean, little is known about its biology and life history. The present study assessed the periodicity of the internal growth increments of G. longior using thin shell sections. Each internal growth increment was composed of two alternating bands: a translucent band (lightcoloured when viewed with transmitted light) and an opaque band (dark-coloured). Annual formation for each pair of bands was demonstrated. The formation of the annual growth increments was synchronous among individuals. Growth was determined from live clams collected at El Sótano, Argentine Sea (age range = 29 to 69 years). According to the growth model, G. longior grows fast during the first 5 years of life and then growth becomes slower in later years; individuals reached 50% and 90% of maximum size at 5 and 13 years of age, respectively. High variability was found in shell height for the first 10 years: differences up to 5-7 mm among individuals were registered for the first 2 years of age, and up to 11 mm between the ages of 3 and 9 years. The growth performance index phi-prime (φ′) and the index of growth performance (P) of G. longior were compared with those of other Glycymeris species. Our results indicate that G. longior is a slow-growing species with a long lifespan (maximum longevity = 69 years).

Taphonomic Signature of Glycymeris longior Shells (Bivalvia) and its Potential as Paleoenvironmental Proxy for the Quaternary of Northern Patagonia (Argentina)

“…These trace fossils, present in more than 65% of G. longior shells, were probably produced by clionid sponges (Bromley, 2004;Belaústegui et al, 2012;Gastaldi et al, 2018) . Glycymeris is an infaunal bivalve that excavates shallow in the sediment (Scarabino, 1977) and lives buried on the first centimeters of it (Giménez et al, 2020a(Giménez et al, , 2020b.…”

“…These trace fossils, present in more than 65% of G. longior shells, were probably produced by clionid sponges (Bromley, 2004; Belaústegui et al, 2012; Gastaldi et al, 2018). Glycymeris is an infaunal bivalve that excavates shallow in the sediment (Scarabino, 1977) and lives buried on the first centimeters of it (Giménez et al, 2020a, 2020b). On the other hand, sponges are epifaunal organisms; therefore, these dwelling traces would have been made when G. longior shells were exhumed and exposed on the seafloor.…”

“…Glycymeris longior is a warm-temperate species whose modern distribution extends from Pará State (Brazil) to the northern SMG in Argentina (Farinati, 1978;Rocha & Matthews-Cascon, 2014;WoRMS Editorial Board, 2023) . It is an infaunal suspension feeder living in fine and medium sandy bottoms, partially covered by small shell particles (Ituarte, 1979;Scarabino et al, 2006;Giménez et al, 2020aGiménez et al, , 2020b). The southernmost living population is found at El Sótano, in the NW sector of the SMG (Fig.…”

Life history characteristics and burrow structure of the mud shrimp (Decapoda: Upogebiidae)

“…According to Vogt (2019), average lifespan of decapod crustaceans in seawater and brackish water is approximately 6 years, but there is little research on aging and longevity of decapod crustaceans. In comparison, age determination in bivalves, sea urchins, and fish has been widely studied because it can be determined by examining hard tissues (shells, rotula, vertebrae, scales, and otoliths) on which growth bands are deposited (Panfili et al 2002, Watanabe & Natsukari 2008, Bodnar 2009, Gimenez et al 2020. Age determination in crustaceans is primarily based on analysis of size frequency distribution and life history data, which are often combined with growth models (Vogt 2012, Kilada & Driscoll 2017.…”

Identification and Characterization of a Novel Lectin from the Clam Glycymeris yessoensis and Its Functional Characterization under Microbial Stimulation and Environmental Stress

“…There is a small-scale but expanding fishery of other species: Glycymeris nummaria and Glycymeris pilosa in the Mediterranean; Glycymeris grayana in New South Wales, Australia; Glycymeris vovan and Glycymeris scripta in the eastern Central Atlantic; Glycymeris ovata in the eastern Pacific; and Glycymeris reevei in the Philippines; etc. [ 22 ]. Modern species of Glycymeris have recently been identified as promising tools for ultra-high-resolution climate reconstruction, as the genus is a cosmopolitan one with evolutionary roots in the Upper Cretaceous.…”