Respiration and feeding of the surf clam Paphies donacina from New Zealand

Abstract

Oxygen uptake and feeding (clearance) rates were measured for the tuatua Pahpies donacina from an exposed sand beach characterised by variable levels of productivity (4–12 μg l−1chlorophyll a) and an annual temperature range between 8 and 19 °C. The aims of the study were to assess the ability of the surf clam to regulate feeding activity and oxygen uptake over a range of food concentrations and temperature conditions. Tuatuas, shell length 27–95 mm, were exposed to temperatures of 10, 15 and 20 °C in summer and 5, 10 and 15 °C in winter. Aquatic oxygen uptake depended on both body weight and exposure temperature with body weight explaining the majority of the variation in the multiple-regression equation. Weight specific oxygen uptake was similar at the two upper temperatures and significantly reduced at the lower temperature. For a standard length tuatua the oxygen uptake was similar at 10 °C in both summer and winter. Clearance rates of P. donacina feeding on laboratory cultures of Isochrysis galbana were low compared with other bivalves. They increased logarithmically with cell concentration up to a maximal rate, then declined at higher cell levels. The clearance rate depended upon shell length and dry tissue weight and was higher for tuatua acclimated at 10 °C than at 15 °C. It was concluded that P. donacina shows seasonal adjustment in oxygen uptake and filtration rate to compensate for seasonal temperature variation in the habitat. The 10 °C temperature optima for the clearance rate is consistent with the southern distribution of this species allowing it to feed effectively during periods of high food availability.