Thermal dependency of burrowing in three species within the bivalve genus Laternula: a latitudinal comparison

• Published in: Marine biology 2009-09, Vol.156 (10), p.1977-1984
• Main Authors: Morley, Simon Anthony, Tan, Koh Siang, Day, Robert W., Martin, Stephanie M., Pörtner, Hans-O., Peck, Lloyd S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Bivalvia; Climate change; Environmental conditions; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; High temperature; Invertebrates; Laternula elliptica; Lethal limits; Life Sciences; Marine; Marine & Freshwater Sciences; Marine biology; Microbiology; Microhabitats; Mollusca; Mollusks; Oceanography; Original Paper; Sea water ecosystems; Synecology; Temperature; Zoology
• ISSN: 0025-3162; 1432-1793
• DOI: 10.1007/s00227-009-1228-8

The upper thermal limits for burrowing and survival were compared with micro-habitat temperature for anomalodesmatan clams: Laternula elliptica (Antarctica, 67°S); Laternula recta , (temperate Australia, 38°S) and Laternula truncata (tropical Singapore, 1°N) . Lethal limits (LT 50 ) were higher than burrowing limits (BT 50 ) in L. elliptica (7.5–9.0 and 2.2°C) and L. recta (winter, 32.8–36.8 and 31.1–32.8°C) but the same range for L. truncata (33.0–35.0 and 33.4–34.9°C). L. elliptica and L. truncata had a BT 50 0.4 and 2.4–3.9°C, respectively, above their maximum experienced temperature. L. recta , which experience solar heating during midday low tides, had a BT 50 0.7–2.4°C below and a range for LT 50 that spanned their predicted environmental maximum (33.5°C). L. recta showed no seasonal difference in LT 50 or BT 50 . Our single genus comparisons contrast with macrophysiological studies showing that temperate species cope better with elevated temperatures.