Variability of growth rate of Macoma balthica (L.) in the Wadden Sea in relation to availability of food
Beukema, J.J.; Cadee, G.C.; Jansen, J.J.M. (1977). Variability of growth rate of Macoma balthica (L.) in the Wadden Sea in relation to availability of food, in: Keegan, B.F. et al. (Ed.) Biology of Benthic Organisms: 11th European Symposium on Marine Biology, Galway, October 1976. pp. 69-77 In: Keegan, B.F.; Ceidigh, P.O.; Boaden, P.J.S. (Ed.) (1977). Biology of Benthic Organisms: 11th European Symposium on Marine Biology, Galway, October 1976. European Marine Biology Symposia, 11. Pergamon Press: Oxford. ISBN 0-08-021378-2. XXXIII, 630 pp., more In: European Marine Biology Symposia., more |
| Keywords | Availability > Food availability
Growth rate
Population functions > Growth > Animal growth
Macoma balthica (Linnaeus, 1758) [WoRMS]
ANE, Wadden Sea [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top | - Beukema, J.J., more
- Cadee, G.C.
- Jansen, J.J.M.
| | |
| Abstract | Annual length increments during the second growing season were studied in the deposit-feeding bivalva Macoma balthica (L.) over 8 years at 15 intertidal stations in the westernmost part of the Dutch Wadden Sea. In the same area distribution of primary production and functional chlorophyll-a content in the top layer of the sediment were estimated over 1 year and over 7 years at a nearby station. Both the place-to-place and year-to-year variation in the growth rate of Macoma were significant. The observed variations in growth rates were related to measures of food supply and to the time available for feeding. Correlations suggest that shortage of food, at the lowest intertidal stations, and short periods of immersion, at the highest stations, both limit growth rate. |
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