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Abstract
Young carpet-shell clams Venerupis decussata (L.) were maintained in sea water over a pH range of 3.5 to 8.2 (control), for periods from 8 to 30 days. Shell dissolution occurred at pH ⩽ 7.55. At pH < 7.0 feeding was inhibited, and both tissue and shell growth were significantly reduced. There were ⩾ 50% mortalities over the time scale of the experiment at pH ⩽ 6.5, with smaller (3–4 mm) clams more sensitive than larger (7–9 mm) clams. The animals showed reduced activity at pH<6.0, with abnormal feeding behaviour, exhibited by hyper-extension of the siphons; greater time spent with the valves closed at these pH levels may have marginally reduced the deleterious effects. It is concluded that pH levels below those found naturally in the sea are intolerable to young V. decussata.
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