This study aimed to evaluate the potential impacts of an introduced clam Mercenaria mercenaria on estuarine ecosystem, and implications for the niche competition with a native clam Meretrix meretrix. The biodeposition...This study aimed to evaluate the potential impacts of an introduced clam Mercenaria mercenaria on estuarine ecosystem, and implications for the niche competition with a native clam Meretrix meretrix. The biodeposition, respiration, and excretion rates of 34. mercenaria were determined seasonally using a sediment trap and a closed respirator in field. The biodeposition rates ofM. mercenaria were 0.06-0.37 g/ （ind.·d）, and the respiration rates were 0.31-14.66 mg/（ind.·d）. The ammonia and phosphate excretion rates were 0.18-36.70 and 1.44-14.87 μg/（ind.·d）, respectively. The hard clam M. mercenaria may discharge dry deposits up to 2.1 × 10^5 t, contribute 18.3 t ammonia and 9.0 t phosphate to culture ponds, and consume 7.9×10^3 t O2 from ponds annually. It suggested that the hard clam M. mercenaria might play an important role in pelagic-benthic coupling in pond ecosystem through biodeposition and excretion. A comparison of the key physiological parameters of the introduced clam M. mercenaria and the native clam Meretrix meretrix suggested that M. mercenaria had a niche similar to that of Meretrix meretrix in Shuangtaizi estuary and might have a potential competition with Meretrix meretrix for habitat and food ifM. mercenaria species escaped from the culture pond or artificially released in estuarine ecosystem.展开更多
基金Supported by the National Special Research Fund for Non-Profit Marine Sector(No.201305043)the Key Laboratory for Ecological Environment in Coastal Areas,State Oceanic Administration(No.201311)+1 种基金the Collaborative Innovation Center for Zhejiang Marine High-Efficiency and Healthy Aquaculturethe K.C.Wong Magna Fund at Ningbo University
文摘This study aimed to evaluate the potential impacts of an introduced clam Mercenaria mercenaria on estuarine ecosystem, and implications for the niche competition with a native clam Meretrix meretrix. The biodeposition, respiration, and excretion rates of 34. mercenaria were determined seasonally using a sediment trap and a closed respirator in field. The biodeposition rates ofM. mercenaria were 0.06-0.37 g/ （ind.·d）, and the respiration rates were 0.31-14.66 mg/（ind.·d）. The ammonia and phosphate excretion rates were 0.18-36.70 and 1.44-14.87 μg/（ind.·d）, respectively. The hard clam M. mercenaria may discharge dry deposits up to 2.1 × 10^5 t, contribute 18.3 t ammonia and 9.0 t phosphate to culture ponds, and consume 7.9×10^3 t O2 from ponds annually. It suggested that the hard clam M. mercenaria might play an important role in pelagic-benthic coupling in pond ecosystem through biodeposition and excretion. A comparison of the key physiological parameters of the introduced clam M. mercenaria and the native clam Meretrix meretrix suggested that M. mercenaria had a niche similar to that of Meretrix meretrix in Shuangtaizi estuary and might have a potential competition with Meretrix meretrix for habitat and food ifM. mercenaria species escaped from the culture pond or artificially released in estuarine ecosystem.
