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Series

1989

Animal Sciences

ESL Publications

Articles 1 - 3 of 3

Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Biological Control Of Crab Predation On Hard Clams Mercenaria Mercenaria (Linnaeus, 1758) By The Toadfish Opsanus Tau (Linnaeus) In Tray Cultures, Robert Bisker, Michael Castagna Jan 1989

Biological Control Of Crab Predation On Hard Clams Mercenaria Mercenaria (Linnaeus, 1758) By The Toadfish Opsanus Tau (Linnaeus) In Tray Cultures, Robert Bisker, Michael Castagna

VIMS Articles

Oyster toadfish Opsanus tau (Linne) were tested as biological controls of crab predation on juvenile hard clams Mercenaria mercenaria (Linne) in trays with crushed stone aggregate. Clam survival after 34 weeks was 69.5% in the presence of toadfish and 2.3% in trays without toadfish. Toadfish reduced the total number of crabs (mud crabs and blue crabs). Crabs in trays with toadfish present had smaller carapace widths.


Predation By The Oyster Toadfish Opsanus Tau (Linnaeus) On Blue Crabs And Mud Crabs, Predators Of The Hard Clam Mercenaria Mercenaria (Linnaeus, 1758), Robert Bisker, Mary Gibbons, Michael Castagna Jan 1989

Predation By The Oyster Toadfish Opsanus Tau (Linnaeus) On Blue Crabs And Mud Crabs, Predators Of The Hard Clam Mercenaria Mercenaria (Linnaeus, 1758), Robert Bisker, Mary Gibbons, Michael Castagna

VIMS Articles

The oyster toadfish, Opsanus tau (Linne), reduces predation by xanthid and portunid crabs on juvenile hard clams, Mercenaria mercenaria (Linne), in field cultures. This study examined the influence of size and species on the predator-prey relationship between toadfish and crabs. The mud crabs Eurypanopeus depressus (Smith), Neopanope sayi (Smith), and Panopeus herbstii Milne Edwards of 5-40 mm carapace width and blue crabs Callinectes sapidus Rathbun of 77-105 mm carapace width were offered to toadfish of 70-322 mm total length. Toadfish predation rates on mud crabs were higher with increasing toadfish size and lower with increasing crab size. Toadfish injured or …


Shell And Pallet Morphology In Early Developmental Stages Of Teredo Navalis Linne (Bivalvia : Teredinidae), S. Cynthia Fuller, Ya-Ping Hu, Richard Lutz, Michael Castagna Jan 1989

Shell And Pallet Morphology In Early Developmental Stages Of Teredo Navalis Linne (Bivalvia : Teredinidae), S. Cynthia Fuller, Ya-Ping Hu, Richard Lutz, Michael Castagna

VIMS Articles

Dimensions of the shell and provinculum distinguish Teredo novalis larvae from the larvae o[ other bivalve mollusks. In the present scanning electron microscopic stud) of shell and pallet morphology during early ontogenetic stages of this species, the characteristic teredinid provinculum, with two interlocking pairs of small teeth and a wide central loath and socket was well-developed in shells 90 μm long. Provinculurn length ranged from 44 to 51 μm during the larval period. Average lengths of provincular teeth of the left valve were 9.6 μm for the anterior tooth and 8.2 μm for the posterior tooth; in the right valve, …