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Patterns of growth and undetectable growth lines ofAstarte sulcata (Bivalvia) in the Faroe-Shetland channel

Wachstum und schwache Wachstumslinien vonAstarte sulcata (Bivalvia) im Faroe-Shetland Kanal

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Abstract

To study the effects of increased near-bottom turbulence, individuals ofAstarte sulcata (Bivalvia) were collected along a depth gradient in the Faroe-Shetland Channel during a research cruise in April 1999. These bivalves were found at depths ranging from 250 m to 800 m. We analysed their long-term growth by means of counting growth lines in the hinge. The average shell size differed at the different depths. The largest animals were found at 300 m (average: 22–23 mm) and the smallest ones at 600 m (average: 15–16 mm). A trend was also found in the age structure at 250 m to 350 m depth.Astarte at 250 m possessed on average 45 growth lines compared to an average of 69 lines in animals obtained from 350 m depth. It was impossible to determine the relative age ofAstarte from 500 m, 600 m and 800 m depth because they did not have clearly defined growth lines. The above-mentioned differences in size, age and growth line visibility are discussed in the light of the effects of temperature and internal waves. Interestingly, unlike other large filter feeders,Astarte appears to be negatively affected by internal wave action.

Zusammenfassung

Um den Effekt von erhöhter Turbulenz in Bodennähe auf die Benthosfauna zu untersuchen, haben wir während einer Forschungsfahrt im April 1999Astarte sulcata (Bivalvia) in verschiedenen Tiefen des Faroe-Shetland Kanals gesammelt. Das Langzeitwachstum (Wachstumsringe) sowie Muschlegröße und Wachstumsrate in den verschiedenen Tiefen (250 m, 300 m, 350 m, 500 m, 600 m, 800 m) wurden untersucht. Die gefundenen Unterschiede zwischen den Tiefen werden anhand von Temperaturdaten und vor dem Hintergrund der Internen Wellen-Theorie diskutiert.

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  1. Anke Weber

    Present address: Energy Research and Process innovation, Department for Ecological Risk Studies (TNO-MEP), The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research, Institute of Environmental Sciences, P.O. Box 57, 1780 AB, Den Helder, The Netherlands

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  1. Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), P.O. Box 59, 1790 AB, Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands

    Anke Weber, Rob Witbaard & Sebastiaan van Steenpaal

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Weber, A., Witbaard, R. & van Steenpaal, S. Patterns of growth and undetectable growth lines ofAstarte sulcata (Bivalvia) in the Faroe-Shetland channel. Senckenbergiana maritima 31, 235–244 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03043032

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