Sediment preference in the asiatic clam (Corbicula fluminea) and viviparid snail (Campeloma decisum) as a response to low-level metal and metalloid contamination

Abstract

Sediment preference experiments were performed with the asiatic clam (Corbicula fluminea) and viviparid snail (Campeloma decisum) to determine the potential use of clam and snail behavior as a response to low-level metal and metalloid contamination. Three sediment types with varying levels of metal contamination were paired in various combinations. Clams and snails were placed in aquaria along the interface between the sediment types. Daily location and burial status were noted for two weeks. Clams spent significantly more days in the uncontaminated sediment when paired with one of the contaminated sediments. Snails spent more days in contaminated sediments when paired with the uncontaminated sediment, but none of these differences was statistically significant. Clams moved fewer days in tanks with the two most contaminated sediment types. Burrowing of snails was relatively unaffected by sediment treatments. The behavior of clams was more sensitive than the behavior of snails to sediment metal contamination. Consequently, clam behavior appears to be a better behavioral indicator of metal contamination.