Abstract
Growth performance of the Antarctic bivalve Laternula elliptica was examined both by shell microstructural observation and by applying a fluorescent substance, tetracycline, as a shell growth marker. The shell was composed of two calcareous layers: the thick outer layer was homogeneous or granular in structure and the thin inner layer was nacreous. The architecture of Antarctic L. elliptica was different from that of temperate L. marilina, and the ratio of thickness between the outer and inner layers appeared to be different. The growth rate of the nacreous layer was analyzed to be very low. High correlations were found between the major axis of chondrophore and both shell length and shell dry weight, respectively. It is suggested that the chondrophore is an appropriate growth indicator, and combining the information of growth increments with the fluorescent method may be useful in estimating the bivalve growth performance in the Antarctic sea.
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Acknowledgments
We thank the members of the 42nd and the 45th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition for their kind support in the conduct of this survey. Special thanks to Drs. S. Ban, T. Hirawake, S. Imura, S. Kudo, and Mr. W. Takahashi for their co-operation in collecting bivalves. We also extend our gratitude to Drs. A. Taniguchi and M. Fukuchi who supported the present study. Sincere thanks are given to Dr. J. Shaw and three anonymous referees for their critical reading the manuscript.
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Sato-Okoshi, W., Okoshi, K. Characteristics of shell microstructure and growth analysis of the Antarctic bivalve Laternula elliptica from Lützow-Holm Bay, Antarctica. Polar Biol 31, 131–138 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-007-0340-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-007-0340-9