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Iron encrustation of the bivalve Montacuta ferruginosa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2004

David C. Gillan
Affiliation:
Marine Biology Laboratory, CP 160/15, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 50 av. Roosevelt, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Chantal De Ridder
Affiliation:
Marine Biology Laboratory, CP 160/15, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 50 av. Roosevelt, 1050 Brussels, Belgium

Abstract

The epibiotic iron-encrusted biofilms occurring on the shell of the bivalve Montacuta ferruginosa were examined over an annual cycle in order to determine possible variation of the iron-encrustation. Among the 379 examined specimens, well-coated bivalves always predominate. However, it was found that about 50% of the small-sized bivalves were uncoated or weakly coated during the summer months. This result can be explained by the life history of the bivalve and by the physico-chemical conditions in the sediments.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2004 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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