Abstract
Populations of the Carolina Marsh Clam,Polymesoda caroliniana, suffered high mortality in southeastern North Carolina during the winters of 1983–84 and 1984–85. Adult populations in brackish marshes in the Cape Fear estuary suffered 33% mortality in 1983 and 38% in 1985. Some data suggest that more flooded areas suffered less mortality. A laboratory experiment found that some clams died after only 4 h exposure to 0 to −1°C. LT50 occurred after only 6.3 h and no individuals survived 24 h exposure. Cold intolerance is suggested as the primary limiting factor in its northern distribution.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Literature Cited
Abbott, R. T. 1974. American Seashells. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., 2nd Edition, 663 p.
Bishop, T. D., andC. T. Hackney. 1981. Seasonal abundance of molluscs in two Mississippi brackish tidal marshes.Assoc. Southeast. Biol. Bull. 28:92.
Duobinis-Gray, E. M., andC. T. Hackney. 1982. Seasonal and spatial distribution of the carolina marsh clamPolymesoda caroliniana (Bosc) in a Mississippi tidal marsh.Estuaries 5:102–109.
Gallagher, J. L., andH. G. Wells. 1969. Northern range extension and winter mortality ofRangia cuneata.Nautilus 83:22–25.
Gainey, L. F., Jr.. 1978. The response of the Corbiculidae (Mollusca: Bivalva) to osmotic stress: the cellular response.Physiol. Zool. 51:79–91.
Kanwisher, J.. 1955. Freezing in intertidal animals.Biol. Bull. Mar. Biol. Lab., Woods Hole 109:56–63.
LaSalle, M. W., and A. A. de la Cruz. 1984. Species profiles: Life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (Gulf of Mexico)—CommonRangia. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, FWS/OBS-82/11.
Murphy, D. J.. 1977. Metabolic and tissue solute changes associated with changes in the freezing tolerance of the bivalve molluscModiolus demissus.J. Exper. Biol. 69:1–12.
Murphy, D. J., andS. K. Pierce. 1975. The physiological basis of changes in the freezing tolerance of intertidal molluscs. I. Response to subfeezing temperatures and the influence of salinity and temperature acclimation.J. Exper. Zool. 193:313–321.
Rogers, P., andA. Garcia-Cubas. 1981. Evolution gonadica a nivel histologico deRangia cuneata (GRAY, 1831) de la laguna Pom, Campeche, Mexico (Mollusca: Bivalvia).Ann. Inst. Cien. Mar. Limnol. Univ. Nac. Auton. Mex. 8:1–20.
Vermeij, G. J.. 1978. Biogeography and Adaptation: Patterns of Marine Life. Harvard University Press, Cambridge. 332 p.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hackney, C.T. A note on the effects of abnormally low temperature on the Carolina marsh clam. Estuaries 8, 394–395 (1985). https://doi.org/10.2307/1351877
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1351877