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Bivalve contribution to benthic metabolism in a California Lagoon

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Abstract

Populations of suspension feeding bivalves constitute a metabolically important component of the benthos in Colorado Lagoon, Long Beach, California. Oxygen and nutrient flux were measuredin situ at monthly intervals over a two-year period. Estimates of bivalve metabolism were based on regressions of oxygen and ammonium flux on a measure of clam biomass adjusted allometrically. The introduced bivalve,Mercenaria mercenaria, occurs at maximum densities exceeding 400 per m2. Based on mean densities (143 per m2), bivalves contributed more than 50% of the 77 mg O2 per m2 per hr mean annual oxygen uptake and the 191 μM per m2 per hr mean ammonium release. Although bivalve biomass was not correlated with other inorganic nutrient flux, on an annual basis the sediments were a source of phosphate (26 μM per m2 per hr annual average, range 5 to 50) and a small sink for nitrate and nitrite. Net primary production, ammonium flux, and phosphate flux showed great annual variability while respiration was relatively constant. Total community oxygen uptake was not correlated with temperature. Long term incubations revealed no obvious rhythms having a period between four hours and four days. The benthic flux of ammonium and phosphate was calculated to supply more than the annual requirement of Lagoon phytoplankton.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Cousteau Society, 8430 Santa Monica Boulevard, 90069, Los Angeles, California

    Richard C. Murphy

  2. University of Southern California, University Park, 90089, Los Angeles, California

    James N. Kremer

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  1. Richard C. Murphy
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Murphy, R.C., Kremer, J.N. Bivalve contribution to benthic metabolism in a California Lagoon. Estuaries 8, 330–341 (1985). https://doi.org/10.2307/1351870

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