Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Site of particle selection in a bivalve mollusc

  • Scientific Correspondence
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

Bivalve molluscs form dense populations that exert profound effects on the particle loads and phytoplankton composition of coastal waters1. It has long been known that bivalves can select among different particle types, including selecting against those of poor nutritional value2,3,4,5, but because of difficulties in observing particle transport processes in the pallial cavity in vivo, the mechanism of selection was not known. We now use a combination of video endoscopy6 and flow cytometry7 to show that oysters can select living particles from non-living detritus on the gills. Our methods could aid the study of suspension feeding in many animal groups.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1: Feeding selectivity by oysters.

References

  1. Dame, R. F. Bivalve Filter Feeders in Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystem Processes. (Springer, Berlin, 1993).

  2. Iglesias, J. I. P., Navarro, E., Jorna, P. A. & Armentia, I. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 162, 177–198 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Pastoureaud, A., Heral, M., Prous, J., Razet, D. & Russu, P. Oceanol. Acta 19, 79–88 (1996).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Newell, R. I. E. & Jordan, S. J. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 13, 47–53 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Newell, C. R., Shumway, S. E., Cucci, T. L. & Selvin, R. J. Shellfish Res. 8, 187–196 (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ward, J. E., MacDonald, B. A., Thompson, R. J. & Beninger, P. G. Limnol. Oceanogr. 38, 265–272 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Shumway, S. E., Cucci, T. L., Newell, R. C. & Yentsch, C. M. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 91, 77–92 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Kennedy, V. S. & Newell, R. I. E. The Eastern Oyster:Crassostrea virginica. (Maryland Sea Grant College, College Park, 1996).

  9. Newell, R. I. E. & Langdon, C. J. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 34, 105–115 (1986).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Ward, J. E. et al. Biol. Bull. 186, (1994).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Groton, 06340, Connecticut, USA

    J. Evan Ward

  2. Department of Ecology and Evolution, State University of New York, Stony Brook, 11794, New York, USA

    Jeffrey S. Levinton

  3. Natural Sciences Division, Southampton College of Long Island University, Southampton, 11986, New York, USA

    Sandra E. Shumway

  4. Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Science, West Boothbay Harbor, Maine, 04575, USA

    Terry Cucci

Authors
  1. J. Evan Ward
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jeffrey S. Levinton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sandra E. Shumway
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Terry Cucci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ward, J., Levinton, J., Shumway, S. et al. Site of particle selection in a bivalve mollusc. Nature 390, 131–132 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/36481

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/36481

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation