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Are clam-seagrass interactions affected by heatwaves during emersion?
Marta Román1, Franck Gilbert2, Rosa M Viejo3
1Centro de Investigación Mariña, Universidade de Vigo, EcoCost, Facultade de Ciencias do Mar, Edificio CC Experimentais, Campus de Vigo, As Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310, Vigo, Spain.
Marine Environmental Research
|February 11, 2023
Summary
Seagrass meadows can protect clams from heatwaves caused by global warming. Seagrass provides a refuge, improving clam survival and suggesting a mutually beneficial relationship for sustainable shellfish farming.
Area of Science:
- Marine Ecology
- Climate Change Biology
- Bivalve Aquaculture
Background:
- Global warming is increasing heatwave frequency, impacting coastal ecosystems like seagrass meadows and shellfish beds.
- Intertidal seagrass meadows are crucial habitats for commercially important bivalves, influencing their survival and growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of simulated heatwaves on juvenile clams (Ruditapes decussatus and R. philippinarum) and their interaction with seagrass (Zostera noltei).
- To evaluate the role of seagrass in mitigating heat stress and its effect on clam bioturbation and growth.
Main Methods:
- A mesocosm experiment simulating a low-tide heatwave.
- Monitoring clam growth, burrowing depth, and bioturbation indicators (Particle Displacement Coefficient).
- Measuring seagrass photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) and heat dissipation in sediments.
Main Results:
- Seagrass (Zostera noltei) enhanced heat dissipation in sediments, offering a refuge for clams during heatwaves.
- Clams burrowed shallower in seagrass beds, while those in bare sand burrowed deeper, indicating seagrass protection.
- Ruditapes philippinarum showed reduced growth and shallower burrowing compared to R. decussatus, suggesting higher vulnerability.
- A facilitative interaction was observed between R. philippinarum and Z. noltei, with clams potentially benefiting seagrass through nutrient excretion.
Conclusions:
- Zostera noltei provides a critical refuge for juvenile clams during heatwaves, enhancing their survival prospects under climate change.
- Reciprocal facilitative interactions between R. philippinarum and Z. noltei suggest potential for integrated management of shellfishing and seagrass conservation.
- Seagrass meadows can contribute to the sustainability of clam populations in warming oceans.
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