The significance of the giant clam Tridacna squamosa at Tubuai, Austral Islands, French Polynesia

Newman, William A.; Gomez, Edgardo D.

doi:10.1007/s00338-007-0327-6

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Gilbert et al (2007) suggested that this discovery could indicate recent eastward colonisation from the Cook Islands. Newman and Gomez (2007) rejected this hypothesis by highlighting known archaeological records of T. squamosa shells in the southeast of French Polynesia, and modern records in the Cook Islands (Paulay 1987) and Pitcairn Islands (Paulay 1989). Indeed, Paulay (1987) reported T. squamosa on the forereefs of Aitutaki, Mauke and Rarotonga (Cook Islands), west of French Polynesia.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Significance of new records ofTridacna squamosaLamarck, 1819, in the Tuamotu and Gambier Archipelagos (French Polynesia)

et al. 2014

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Significance of new records ofTridacna squamosaLamarck, 1819, in the Tuamotu and Gambier Archipelagos (French Polynesia)

et al. 2014

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“…mbalavuana (= T . tevoroa ) found at greater depths [ 43 ]. With one of the deepest depth ranges of all giant clam species, T .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A new species range extension into French Polynesia has been observed recently [42], although this may be a relic [43]. The fluted giant clam has leaf-like shell protrusions called scutes and is one of the most ornate giant clam species.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The fluted, or scaly, giant clam, Tridacna squamosa Lamarck, 1819, listed as ‘Lower Risk/conservation dependent’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species [ 31 ], is native to shallow coral reefs of the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, but possibly extinct in Japan and the Northern Mariana Islands [ 31 ]. A new species range extension into French Polynesia has been observed recently [ 42 ], although this may be a relic [ 43 ]. The fluted giant clam has leaf-like shell protrusions called scutes and is one of the most ornate giant clam species.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Giant Clams and Rising CO2: Light May Ameliorate Effects of Ocean Acidification on a Solar-Powered Animal

Watson

2015

PLoS ONE

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Global climate change and ocean acidification pose a serious threat to marine life. Marine invertebrates are particularly susceptible to ocean acidification, especially highly calcareous taxa such as molluscs, echinoderms and corals. The largest of all bivalve molluscs, giant clams, are already threatened by a variety of local pressures, including overharvesting, and are in decline worldwide. Several giant clam species are listed as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and now climate change and ocean acidification pose an additional threat to their conservation. Unlike most other molluscs, giant clams are ‘solar-powered’ animals containing photosynthetic algal symbionts suggesting that light could influence the effects of ocean acidification on these vulnerable animals. In this study, juvenile fluted giant clams Tridacna squamosa were exposed to three levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) (control ~400, mid ~650 and high ~950 μatm) and light (photosynthetically active radiation 35, 65 and 304 μmol photons m-2 s-1). Elevated CO2 projected for the end of this century (~650 and ~950 μatm) reduced giant clam survival and growth at mid-light levels. However, effects of CO2 on survival were absent at high-light, with 100% survival across all CO2 levels. Effects of CO2 on growth of surviving clams were lessened, but not removed, at high-light levels. Shell growth and total animal mass gain were still reduced at high-CO2. This study demonstrates the potential for light to alleviate effects of ocean acidification on survival and growth in a threatened calcareous marine invertebrate. Managing water quality (e.g. turbidity and sedimentation) in coastal areas to maintain water clarity may help ameliorate some negative effects of ocean acidification on giant clams and potentially other solar-powered calcifiers, such as hard corals.

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“…Previously, American Sāmoa hosted two species of giant clams in the territorial waters: Tridacna squamosa and T. maxima. Fossilized shells indicate a third species, Hippopus hippopus, used to occur in Sāmoa, but is now locally extinct (Nagaoka, 1993;Newman & Gomez, 2000). Additionally, an aquaculture program was started for juvenile H. hippopus T. gigas, and T. derasa, but stocks were harvested prior to reproduction and appear to be functionally extirpated.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Range Expansion and First Observation of Tridacna noae in American Sāmoa

Marra-Biggs

Fatherree

Green³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Giant clams are ecologically important, benefitting species of all trophic levels. But numerous populations have declined drastically in numbers due to past intensive exploitation that led to their listing in both CITES Appendix II and IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.. However, giant clams are notoriously difficult to identify, and recent molecular work has revealed that morphological misidentification of giant clams have confounded current population assessments and extinction risk. The most recent study of the status of giant clams in the Samoan Archipelago was published in a journal over 20 years ago, without molecular corroboration of visual identifications. Using morphologic characteristics and ezRAD genetic techniques, we identify the existence of Tridacna noae in the Samoan Archipelago, presenting the first observation and a resulting range expansion. Accurately identifying the extant species in the archipelago is the first step towards a much-needed population status assessment to effectively manage these long-lived species.

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The significance of the giant clam Tridacna squamosa at Tubuai, Austral Islands, French Polynesia

Cited by 4 publications

References 3 publications

Significance of new records ofTridacna squamosaLamarck, 1819, in the Tuamotu and Gambier Archipelagos (French Polynesia)

Significance of new records ofTridacna squamosaLamarck, 1819, in the Tuamotu and Gambier Archipelagos (French Polynesia)

Giant Clams and Rising CO2: Light May Ameliorate Effects of Ocean Acidification on a Solar-Powered Animal

Range Expansion and First Observation of Tridacna noae in American Sāmoa

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