The Dynamics of Burrowing of Some Common Littoral Bivalves

Abstract

ABSTRACT The process of burrowing in the Bivalvia has been studied in a restricted range of species only, notably in members of the Solenacea (Fraenkel, 1927), the Lucinacea (Allen, 1958), and the Veneracea (Quayle, 1949; Ansell, 1962). This previous work, summarized by Morton (1964), makes little reference to burrowing in the common British littoral species and, with the exception of Ansell’s paper, lacks the precision which more modern techniques of recording may give. The object of this research was to study the process of burrowing in detail in Tellina tenuis, Macoma balthica, Donax vittatus and Cardium edule, common littoral bivalves with very different shell shapes and habits.