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Predation Of Cockles (Cerastoderma Edule) By The Whelk (Buccinum Undatum) Under Laboratory Conditions, Jws Scolding, Ca Richardson, Mw Luckenbach

VIMS Articles

The feeding rate and behaviour of whelks (Buccinum undatum) offered cockles (Cerastoderma edule) in laboratory experiments were examined. When presented with cockles in a range of sizes (10–40 mm), 14 B. undatum (34.6–88.3 mm), held individually in aquaria, consumed a wide size range of cockles. Small whelks (<40 >mm) consumed cockles (<23 >mm), whereas large whelks, (>60 mm) ate a greater number of larger cockles (>30 mm) and a wider size range of cockles (12–40 mm) than smaller whelks. The majority (90%) of the shells of the predated cockles were undamaged and the few …