Feeding current characteristics of three morphologically different bivalve suspension feeders, Crassostrea gigas, Mytilus edulis and Cerastoderma edule, in relation to food competition |
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Authors: | Karin Troost Eize J Stamhuis Luca A van Duren Wim J Wolff |
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Institution: | (1) Marine Benthic Ecology and Evolution, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands;(2) Ocean Ecosystems, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands;(3) Wageningen IMARES, Yerseke, P.O. Box 77, 4400 AB Yerseke, The Netherlands;(4) DELTARES, P.O. Box 177, 2600 MH Delft, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | Introduced Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) have shown rapid expansion in the Oosterschelde estuary, while stocks of native bivalves declined slightly or remained stable.
This indicates that they might have an advantage over native bivalve filter feeders. Hence, at the scale of individual bivalves,
we studied whether this advantage occurs in optimizing food intake over native bivalves. We investigated feeding current characteristics,
in which potential differences may ultimately lead to a differential food intake. We compared feeding currents of the invasive
epibenthic non-siphonate Pacific oyster to those of two native bivalve suspension feeders: the epibenthic siphonate blue mussel
Mytilus edulis and the endobenthic siphonate common cockle Cerastoderma edule. Inhalant flow fields were studied empirically using digital particle image velocimetry and particle tracking velocimetry.
Exhalant jet speeds were modelled for a range of exhalant-aperture cross-sectional areas as determined in the laboratory and
a range of filtration rates derived from literature. Significant differences were found in inhalant and exhalant current velocities
and properties of the inhalant flow field (acceleration and distance of influence). At comparable body weight, inhalant current
velocities were lower in C. gigas than in the other species. Modelled exhalant jets were higher in C. gigas, but oriented horizontally instead of vertically as in the other species. Despite these significant differences and apparent
morphological differences between the three species, absolute differences in feeding current characteristics were small and
are not expected to lead to significant differences in feeding efficiency. |
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