Disparity pattern of unionoid bivalves from Lake Malawi (East-Africa): a case study for adaptive strategies to heterogeneous environment

Scholz, Hans

doi:10.1002/zoos.201300008

Cited by 3 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…The thinner shell might be the consequence of the adaptation of the genus Mutela to a continuous infaunal life. This species prefers deeper waters, because the developed posterior gap allows feeding without opening the valves, but makes this species vulnerable to desiccation (Scholz, 2013). However, despite the difference in layers sampled (inner nacreous vs prismatic), the Mutela shell matched the model shell well (Fig.…”

Section: Species-related Differences In D 18 O Shell Variations?mentioning

confidence: 92%

“…In order to cope with the heterogeneity and instability of freshwater environments many species adapt their shell shape to environmental conditions (Scholz, 2013). In the current study, all analyzed bivalves are from the Unionoida order.…”

Section: Species-related Differences In D 18 O Shell Variations?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Chambardia and Aspatharia species are known for their robust shell structure, which allows a higher level of adaptability, thus these bivalves can thrive even in extreme conditions. According to Scholz (2013), juvenile bivalves of Chambardia nyassaensis from Lake Malawi live deeply buried in the sediment, while grown individuals prefer semi-infaunal lifestyle, only partly buried. The elongated headwater shape allows them to quickly rebury if low water conditions occur, the tolerance to dry conditions explains why this species is abundantly found in both deep and shallow water (Scholz, 2013).…”

Section: Species-related Differences In D 18 O Shell Variations?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to Scholz (2013), juvenile bivalves of Chambardia nyassaensis from Lake Malawi live deeply buried in the sediment, while grown individuals prefer semi-infaunal lifestyle, only partly buried. The elongated headwater shape allows them to quickly rebury if low water conditions occur, the tolerance to dry conditions explains why this species is abundantly found in both deep and shallow water (Scholz, 2013). Beadle (1974) reported that Aspatharia species can survive up to two years under desiccated conditions.…”

Section: Species-related Differences In D 18 O Shell Variations?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Various symbols illustrate the relationship for one river but for different years. Years included: Oubangui (2010Oubangui ( -2013, Congo -Kinshasa (2011, Congo -Kisangani (2013, Kasai (2015), Niger at Niamey (2011), Ogooué at Lambaréné, Gabon (2012, Kafue, Zambia (2012-2013 and Tana at Garissa (Kenya) (2012)(2013). Calculated linear regression includes only the un-regulated rivers (R 2 = 0.82, N = 18).…”

Section: Species-related Differences In D 18 O Shell Variations?mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Freshwater bivalve shells as hydrologic archives in the Congo Basin

Kelemen

Gillikin

Borges

et al. 2021

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

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We test the applicability of bivalve shell oxygen isotope composition to reconstruct hydrological dynamics in four riverine sites in the Congo River basin. Twenty-three specimens from the Unionoida order were collected from locations where longterm discharge data are available, and in situ measurements and water samples were collected over several years. Due to the highly variable (species-specific) shell morphology, various sampling techniques were used to analyze the shell sections; however, every specimen recorded the seasonality of the host water oxygen stable isotope composition (d 18 O w ) in its d 18 O shell record. Discharge data showed an inverse relationship with d 18 O w values, which was well described with a logarithmic fit. An exception was the Kasai River, where the d 18 O w record shows an additional peak occurring during the high discharge period, which renders the discharge-d 18 O w relationship more complex than in the other systems investigated. Low ratios of maximum to minimum discharge (Q max /Q min ) were found to result in a low d 18 O w amplitude, which was reflected as low d 18 O shell variability. The Congo and Kasai rivers had Q max /Q min ratios~2 to 2.5, while the Oubangui showed a much higher Q max /Q min (~19). Shells correspondingly showed a large d 18 O shell range (amplitude between 2.4 and 5.0‰) for individual Oubangui shells, and lower amplitude for other sites (1.0 to 2.2‰). Thus, shells have a high resolving power to be used to record hydrological variability, since long-term changes in precipitation pattern, discharge, land-use change, or other hydrological changes have an influence on d 18 O w values. Shells with wide range of d 18 O values reflect high seasonal variability in rivers, while shells with lower d 18 O amplitude correspond to sites with more steady river conditions over the year. Our study illustrates that fossil shell d 18 O values could indicate Q max /Q min values in ancient African river systems.

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Section: Species-related Differences In D 18 O Shell Variations?mentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Species-related Differences In D 18 O Shell Variations?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Species-related Differences In D 18 O Shell Variations?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Species-related Differences In D 18 O Shell Variations?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Species-related Differences In D 18 O Shell Variations?mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Freshwater bivalve shells as hydrologic archives in the Congo Basin

Kelemen

Gillikin

Borges

et al. 2021

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

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Shell shape variation in Amazonian freshwater mussels (Unionida: Hyriidae: Hyriini)

Mata

Tagliaro

Simeone

et al. 2019

Journal of Molluscan Studies

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67,000 years of coastal engagement at Panga ya Saidi, eastern Africa

et al. 2021

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The antiquity and nature of coastal resource procurement is central to understanding human evolution and adaptations to complex environments. It has become increasingly apparent in global archaeological studies that the timing, characteristics, and trajectories of coastal resource use are highly variable. Within Africa, discussions of these issues have largely been based on the archaeological record from the south and northeast of the continent, with little evidence from eastern coastal areas leaving significant spatial and temporal gaps in our knowledge. Here, we present data from Panga ya Saidi, a limestone cave complex located 15 km from the modern Kenyan coast, which represents the first long-term sequence of coastal engagement from eastern Africa. Rather than attempting to distinguish between coastal resource use and coastal adaptations, we focus on coastal engagement as a means of characterising human relationships with marine environments and resources from this inland location. We use aquatic mollusc data spanning the past 67,000 years to document shifts in the acquisition, transportation, and discard of these materials, to better understand long-term trends in coastal engagement. Our results show pulses of coastal engagement beginning with low-intensity symbolism, and culminating in the consistent low-level transport of marine and freshwater food resources, emphasising a diverse relationship through time. Panga ya Saidi has the oldest stratified evidence of marine engagement in eastern Africa, and is the only site in Africa which documents coastal resources from the Late Pleistocene through the Holocene, highlighting the potential archaeological importance of peri-coastal sites to debates about marine resource relationships.

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Disparity pattern of unionoid bivalves from Lake Malawi (East-Africa): a case study for adaptive strategies to heterogeneous environment

Cited by 3 publications

References 26 publications

Freshwater bivalve shells as hydrologic archives in the Congo Basin

Freshwater bivalve shells as hydrologic archives in the Congo Basin

Shell shape variation in Amazonian freshwater mussels (Unionida: Hyriidae: Hyriini)

67,000 years of coastal engagement at Panga ya Saidi, eastern Africa

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