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Population Dynamics Of Musculus Senhousia And Protothaca Staminea In Tomales Bay, California, David Mcclain Nelson

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The changes in population density, growth and biomass of two infaunal, sympatric, suspension-feeding bivalves, Musculus senhousia (Benson, 1842) and Protothaca staminea (Conrad, 1837), have been investigated over an eighteen month period in Tomales Bay, California. M. senhousia, a mussel, displays two basic spawning times, one of which occurs in late spring, while the second spawning takes place in late summer. M. staminea, a venerid, spawns once during late spring. The population density of the mussel ranged from 9,180 m-2 in early spring to 752 m-2 in the fall of 1976. M. staminea had a maximum density of 1,120 m- 2 …