Burrowing behaviour affects Paraergasilus rylovi abundance in Anodonta piscinalis

Abstract

Burrowing depth may affect predation rate, feeding ability and reproduction in bivalve clams. We studied the effect of burrowing depth on the abundance of the ergasilid Paraergasilus rylovi in the freshwater bivalve clam Anodonta piscinalis. We transplanted uninfected clams to a lake where they were allowed to choose their preferred burrowing depth, and were exposed naturally to copepodids of the parasite. There was a significant positive correlation between proportionate burrowing depth (PBD) and the abundance of P. rylovi at the end of the 17-day experiment, the deeper-burrowed clams harbouring more P. rylovi. Original PBD (0%, 50%, 100%) did not influence the final PBD or parasite abundance. Clam length affected PBD, smaller clams burrowing deeper, but it did not affect parasite abundance. Infected experimental clams and naturally-burrowed uninfected clams, both originating from the same lake, did not differ in their mean PBD. This indicated that burrowing of the experimental clams affected parasitism rather than the parasites altering burrowing of the clams. In line with the experimental result, we observed a significant positive correlation between PBD and the abundance of P. rylovi also among clams collected from 2 natural A. piscinalis populations.

Influences of Substrate Grain Size on the Burrowing Behavior of Juvenile Meretrix meretrix

“…The redox potential in the substrate is also correlated with the substrate grain size since smaller grain size substrates are less influenced by the overlying water and have a higher redox potential, this makes it easier for reducing bacteria to metabolize, and they have a stronger ability to handle reducing the organic matter that is produced by biological metabolism [ 47 ]. Then, in terms of biological factors, M. meretrix filter suspended particles in the water through their siphons to complete feeding, and large grain size substrates have larger gaps, making it easier for bacteria and microorganisms to invade, and increasing the likelihood of bacterial infestation during clam filter feeding [ 48 ]. Also, the small grain size substrate can help clams to remove attached organisms during sand diving, and the remaining attached organisms will suffocate and die due to the low level of oxygen in the substrate.…”

CO2-Induced Ocean Acidification Alters the Burrowing Behavior of Manila Clam Ruditapes philippinarum by Reversing GABAA Receptor Function

“…Animal behavior plays an important role in regulating the physiological status of individuals, the maintenance of community structure, and the stability of ecosystems. , Recently, ocean acidification has been reported to affect the behaviors of various marine animals. , More specifically, in the stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus , pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha , and Californian rockfish Sebastes diploproa , elevated p CO 2 induced changes in lateralization, boldness, and anxiety. − In the thick shell mussel Mytilus coruscus and pearl oyster Pinctada fucata , elevated p CO 2 reduced byssus secretion rate, frequency of shed byssus, byssus length, and diameter. , Burrowing behavior is an important survival strategy for the bottom-burrowing bivalves. At the individual level, burrowing provides refuge from predators, thereby increasing bivalve survival rates. , Furthermore, bivalve burrowing is reproductively functional by adjusting their burrowing depth during spawning . To avoid negative consequences of acidic sediments, bivalves such as the soft-shell clam Mya arenaria reduced the burrowing rate and increased dispersal. , Exposure to elevated p CO 2 also reduced the burrowing depth of the razor clam Sinonovacula constricta .…”

“…At the individual level, burrowing provides refuge from predators, thereby increasing bivalve survival rates. 21,22 Furthermore, bivalve burrowing is reproductively functional by adjusting their burrowing depth during spawning. 23 To avoid negative consequences of acidic sediments, bivalves such as the softshell clam Mya arenaria reduced the burrowing rate and increased dispersal.…”

Effect of substrate particle size on burrowing of the juvenile freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera

“…Burrowing behaviour of adult Unionida mussels has been studied from many angles (e.g. Lewis & Riebel, 1984;Di Maio & Corkum, 1997;Watters et al, 2001;Saarinen & Taskinen, 2003;Taskinen & Saarinen, 2006;Allen & Vaughn, 2009). However, only a few studies have focused solely on the burrowing behaviour of juvenile Unionida (Yeager et al, 1994;Sparks & Strayer, 1998;Archambault et al, 2013Archambault et al, , 2014French & Ackerman, 2014;Kemble et al, 2020), and even fewer have examined the burrowing behaviour of margaritiferids (Bílý et al, 2020).…”