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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Apparent Sibling Rivalry In The Freshwater Clam Sphaerium Striatinum, Mark Beekey, Ronald H. Karlson
Apparent Sibling Rivalry In The Freshwater Clam Sphaerium Striatinum, Mark Beekey, Ronald H. Karlson
Biology Faculty Publications
In Sphaerium striatinum, a freshwater brooding bivalve, up to 97.5% of offspring that adults initially produce fail to reach independence. Marsupial sacs, specialized extensions of gill filaments that act as nurseries, initially contain multiple offspring in various sizes and stages of development. However, by the time offspring reach later stages of development, marsupial sacs typically contain only one offspring. Brood mortality is hypothesized to be the result of competition among embryos for nutrients and/or space. Sphaeriid eggs do not contain enough yolk for offspring to complete development. Adults supply additional nutrients required to reach independence. Brood capacity is limited by …
The Effect Of Size-Limited Brood Capacity On Brood Size In A Freshwater Bivalve, Mark Beekey
The Effect Of Size-Limited Brood Capacity On Brood Size In A Freshwater Bivalve, Mark Beekey
Biology Faculty Publications
Size limited brood capacity is common among species with hard exoskeletons or shells. In these species, brood size is limited by the physical capacity to hold offspring. Here we present evidence that brood size is limited by physical constraints in Sphaerium striatinum , a small brooding bivalve. Sphaerium striatinum is a sequential brooder and produces offspring throughout the year. Offspring are brooded in marsupial sacs located on the inner demibranch. In an unconstrained brooder one would predict that brood size would increase as a function of adult length cubed, a volumetric relationship. In S. striatinum, brood size increases as less …