Feeding selectivity of Corbicula fluminea (Bivalvia) on natural phytoplankton

Abstract

Phytoplankton in water samples from the lower delta of the Parana river (Argentina) and in the gut contents of a local populaton of the Asiatic clam Corbicula fluminea was identified and counted monthly between April 1992 and March 1993 . Relative abundances of algal species were generally similar in the medium and in the stomachs of clams, suggesting the absence of feeding selectivity on the basis of taxonomic group or size-class . Diatoms made up a slightly but consistently larger (yet not significantly different) proportion of the diet of C. fluminea than of the plankton ; this pattern is attributed to enhanced preservation of algal siliceous frustules, rather than to feeding selectivity. It is suggested that non-selective feeding by the bivalve is a response to the overall scarcity of food and, probably, to food collection by a combination of deposit and filter feeding .

Feeding selectivity of the invasive mussel Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker, 1857) on a natural phytoplankton assemblage: what really matters?

“…Similar conclusions have been drawn about the invasive bivalve Corbicula fluminea (Müller), which invaded similar water bodies to those now inhabited by L. fortunei in South America (see Table 2 and Fig. 6 in Boltovskoy et al 1995). On the other hand, these results contrast with studies of D. polymorpha that observed high, positive selection of Cryptomonas, this being attributed to its high palatability and nutritional content (e.g.…”

The Aquatic Trophic Ecology of Suisun Marsh, San Francisco Estuary, California, During Autumn in a Wet Year

“…These findings are curious given the dependence of these animals on phytoplankton noted in the literature (e.g., Boltovsky et al 1995;Kimmerer 2004;Howe and Simenstad 2011). There are three plausible explanations for this discrepancy.…”

Effects of conspecifics on settling juveniles of the invasive golden mussel, Limnoperna fortunei

“…Water temperature ranges between 28 and 29°C in January and 10-11°C in July. Sediments are mainly composed of sand (98-99%), with very little silt and clay, and with small amounts of organic matter (3-6%; Boltovskoy et al 1995). Stretches of compacted sediments are common, and tree remains, waterfront defenses, piers, various other man-made structures, construction debris spread along the shoreline and hulls of sunken ships provide abundant hard surfaces for the settling of L. fortunei.…”