ISSN:
1573-5117
Keywords:
shell morphology
;
alkalinity
;
canonical variates analysis
;
Elliptio complanata
;
Unionidae
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract To compare the relative magnitude of variation in shell morphology within and among lakes, Elliptio complanata were collected from low and high exposure areas in each of four small lakes in south-central Ontario. Nested ANOVA's on shell length, height, width and weight revealed that shell morphology varied much more between sites of differing exposure within a lake than among lakes of differing alkalinity. Canonical variates analysis showed that clams from high exposure areas had larger and proportionately taller and heavier shells than those from low exposure areas. There was no relationship between alkalinity of lakes and shell morphology. These results suggest that the use of unionid shell morphology to predict long-term whole lake water chemistry (e.g. alkalinity) requires sampling designs which take into account within-lake variation in shell morphology.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00008807
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