in this study, macrobenthic bivalves were identified at 12 stations located in four regions (markazi, shahr no, khalasi, and gabrik creeks). the relationships between density of bivalves and non-biological factors were examined, as well. sampling of sediments was done seasonally from autumn 2009 to summer 2010, by 0.04 m2 van veen grab, in three stations including mouth, middle and end of each ...

Seagrasses and suspension feeders are both critical ecosystem engineers in estuaries. Seagrass beds are important structural habitats, and suspension feeders, when abundant, can regulate phytoplankton densities. Furthermore, there may be mutual facilitation of growth and recruitment between seagrasses and suspension-feeding bivalves. In a series of mesocosm experiments, the effects of environme...

Bioaccumulation of (134)Cs was determined in 5 tropical marine species: three bivalves (the oysters Isognomon isognomum and Malleus regula, and the clam Gafrarium pectinatum), one decapod (shrimp Penaeus stylirostris) and one alga (Lobophora variegata). Marine organisms were exposed to the radionuclides via different pathways: seawater (all of them), food (shrimp and bivalves) and sediment (biv...

The Albian- Cenomanian (Kazhdumi Formation) sediments from northeast of Shiraz, Zagros Basin, represents a carbonate sedimentary succession and contain diverse gastropods and bivalves. Detailed studies on 80 samples of invertebrate macrofauna on two stratigraphic sections led to recognized 2 species and 5 genera of gastropods and 7 species and 13 genera of bivalves assemblages. The abscence of ...

Sponges, porous filter-feeding organisms consisting of vast canal systems, provide unique substrates for diverse symbiotic organisms. The Spongia (Spongia) sp. massive sponge is obligately inhabited by the host-specific endosymbiotic bivalve Vulsella vulsella, which benefits from this symbiosis by receiving protection from predators. However, whether the host sponge gains any benefit from this ...

Considering the site (habitat) specific variations in the metabolic activities in the freshwater bivalves, we reported here the changes in the rate of oxygen consumption, rate of ammonia excretion and O: N ratio in the freshwater bivalve mollusc, Lamellidens marginalis (Lamark) from lotic and lentic water habitats on April-May during summer season. The adult freshwater bivalves, Lamellidens mar...

One hundred and thirty-seven bivalves were collected for environmental monitoring and the market; all the samples were analysed by RT-PCR test. Bacteriological counts meeting the European Union shellfish criteria were reached by 69.5% of all the samples, whereas the overall positive values for enteric virus presence were: 25.5%, 18.2%, 8.0% and 2.1% for Rotavirus, Astrovirus, Enteroviruses, Nor...

Bivalves are an ancient and ubiquitous group of aquatic invertebrates with an estimated 10 000-20 000 living species. They are economically significant as a human food source, and ecologically important given their biomass and effects on communities. Their phylogenetic relationships have been studied for decades, and their unparalleled fossil record extends from the Cambrian to the Recent. Neve...

SHELLFISH is one of the most important aquaculture products of Portugal yielding approximately 5,000 tons/yr (Direcção Geral das Pescas, www.dg-pescas.pt, July 2006). Seafood is an excellent natural resource which is common in the Portuguese diet and is in high demand by tourists. Some shellfish are consumed raw or undercooked. Several legal regulatory steps are in place that control processes ...