Abstract

Growth lines in bivalve mollusks have been thought to reflect solar days, circadian rhythms and/or tides. Tides seem to be the dominating influence in some intertidal species. This study provides laboratory evidence suggesting that tides are a major influence in the number of growth lines in the clam Protothaca staminea.

Clams were grown under 4 different "tidal" regimes, (0, 1, 2 and 3 tides per day) for forty-one days. Acetate peels of shell cross sections were used for growth line counting. Photomicrographs and measurements showed a striking difference in the growth and number of growth lines between the 4 tidal groups. Generally, those with the least number of tidal emersions showed the least number of lines. Presence of lines in specimens grown with no tidal exposure suggests that in P. staminea the lines may be endogenously controlled but entrained by the tides.

LLU Discipline

Biology

Department

Biology

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

Conrad D. Clausen

Second Advisor

Ariel A. Roth

Third Advisor

Raymond E. Rychman

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Degree Level

M.A.

Year Degree Awarded

1981

Date (Title Page)

5-1981

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Clams; Tide pool ecology

Type

Thesis

Page Count

vi; 39

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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