侏儒蛤潜沙行为研究

A Study on Burrowing Behavior of Mulinia lateralis

侏儒蛤(Mulinia lateralis)是一种小型的双壳埋栖贝类,具有生长迅速、繁育周期短的特点,被称为软体动物研究的模式生物。潜沙行为是埋栖贝类的重要生存策略,潜沙后贝类躯体立于底质中,在底质表面形成水孔,用于海水交换,完成呼吸和摄食。为了建立侏儒蛤室内养殖系统,有必要对侏儒蛤的潜沙行为进行深入了解。在实验室条件下,我们观察了侏儒蛤潜沙行为的主要过程,比较了不同规格和月龄侏儒蛤的潜沙能力,分析了高温、低盐和高盐胁迫对侏儒蛤潜沙行为的影响。研究发现侏儒蛤的潜沙过程主要分为潜沙准备、伸出水管和斧足、斧足潜入、竖壳、潜沙和潜沙完成6个步骤。随着规格和月龄的增长,侏儒蛤潜沙能力逐渐减弱,主要表现为潜沙率下降和潜沙所需时间的延长。高温也产生了类似的影响,并且随着高温胁迫时间的增加,其受到的影响愈加严重。低盐和高盐条件均影响侏儒蛤的潜沙行为,但是随着盐度胁迫时间的增加,其受到的影响逐渐减弱,暗示侏儒蛤对盐度的变化具有较高的适应能力。本研究扩展了对侏儒蛤潜沙行为的认识,对开展侏儒蛤行为适应性研究以及建立侏儒蛤室内养殖系统具有重要意义。

The dwarf surfclam,Mulinia lateralis,is suitable model for Mollusca genetics because it is small and has a short generation time.Burrowing behavior is an important strategy for burial shellfish to adapt to benthic lifestyle in the sediment.In order to establish the indoor culture for M.lateralis,it is necessary to understand the burrowing behavior.Under laboratory conditions,the burrowing process of M.lateralis was observed and the burrowing ability with different sizes and ages was assessed.In addition,the effects of high temperature,high salinity and low salinity stress on burrowing behavior of M.lateralis were observed.The results showed that the burrowing behavior of M.lateralis could be divided six periods preparation,stretching siphons and foot,foot drilling into the sand,stacking shell,burrowing into sand and terminal.With the increase of size and age,the burrowing ability of M.lateralis gradually decrease,including the decline in burrowing rate and the extension of burrowing time.The high temperature decreased the burrowing ability of M.lateralis,and the effect was more severe with the increase of stress time under high temperature.The similar behavior was also observed under the stress of high salinity and low salinity,but the effects were gradually weakened with the increase of salinity stress time,suggesting that M.lateralis has an ability to adapt salinity stress.This study promotes the understanding of burrowing behavior and it is of great significance for carrying out research on behavior adaptation and establishing an indoor culture system for M.lateralis.