Effects of Water Temperature, Salinity and Substrata on Burrowing Behaviors of the Three Bivalves, Pseudocardium sachalinensis, Mactra chinensis, and Ruditapes philippinarum.

Abstract

This paper analyzed the effects of water temperature, salinity and particle size of the substratum on the burrowing behaviors of the three Veneroid bivalves, Pseudocardium sachalinensis, Mactra chinensis, and Ruditapes philippinarum. The starting time for burrowing behavior (STBB) and mean burrowing velocity (MBV) of the three bivales in 15-25°C tended to be more rapid than those in 5-1O°C. In 5-10°C, STBB and MBV of P. sachalinensis were the most rapid, and the burying depth of this species in 5-10°C was deeper than that in 15-25°C. In R. philippinarum, the ranges of optimum salinity and particle size for burrowing were wide compared with the other species. It was concluded that the burrowing behaviors of P. sachalinensis and R. philippinarum are well adapted to the dynamic swash conditions in high latitudes and to sites with fresh water, fluctuation of water temperature and low sorting sediment.