Co-ordinated rhythms of digestion, absorption and excretion in Mytilus edulis (Bivalvia: Mollusca)
Hawkins, A.J.S.; Bayne, B.L.; Clarke, K.R. (1983). Co-ordinated rhythms of digestion, absorption and excretion in Mytilus edulis (Bivalvia: Mollusca). Mar. Biol. (Berl.) 74(1): 41-48
In: Marine Biology: International Journal on Life in Oceans and Coastal Waters. Springer: Heidelberg; Berlin. ISSN 0025-3162; e-ISSN 1432-1793, more
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| Keywords |
Anatomical structures > Digestive system Cultures > Shellfish culture Excretion Food conversion Invertebrates Invertebrates Organisms > Eukaryotes > Animals > Invertebrates Temporal variations Mytilus edulis Linnaeus, 1758 [WoRMS] Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top |
- Hawkins, A.J.S.
- Bayne, B.L.
- Clarke, K.R.
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| Abstract |
Sequential alternation of extracellular digestion in the stomach and intracellular digestion in the diverticula appears widespread among bivalves. The present study documents some physiological consequences of such processes in M. Edulis L. collected during 1981 from Whitsan Bay, Cornwall, England. Pronounced temporal fluctuations in faecal deposition are described that relate, in terms of amplitude and period, to both sinusoidal rhythmicity established for ammonia excretion and changes in the morphology of digestive tubules. Although at least partially synchronised among replicate groups of mussels, these cycles bore no consistent relationship with exogenous influences, hourly fluctuation in the net absorption efficiency for nitrogen, as evidenced by the mean percentage plus or minus 2 SE. measured over 24 h sampling periods, was considerable (16.0 plus or minus 53.7, 49.3 plus or minus 10.9 and 52.8 plus or minus 6.6 for mussels acclimated in March, June and October, respectively. |
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