Abstract
Thermal tolerance studies on three larval stages of five species of bivalve are compared: Crassostrea virginica, Mulinia lateralis, Argopecten irradians, Mercenaria mercenaria, and Spisula solidissima. Experiments were designed to simulate possible larval entrainment in the cooling systems of power plants and involved an 11 (temperature)x8(time-exposure) experimental matrix. Temperatures ranged from about 17.4° to 43°C at approximately 2C° intervals, and exposure times ranged from 1 min to 6 h (sometimes longer in the case of C. virginica). For all species, larval mortality generally increased with increasing exposure temperature and with increased time-exposure at any one temperature. In some species (M. mercenaria and A. irradians), a cold-shock was also apparent (i.e. increased mortality at temperatures below those at which the larvae were spawned). In the case of A. irradians, this effect was more noticeable at the trochophore stage than at the other two stages, although for all species investigated, there was a general trend of decreased thermal sensitivity with increasing age. Despite some interspecies variability from temperature to temperature and from stage to stage, S. solidissima was the most sensitive species and A. irradians was intermediate in thermal tolerance between this and the other three species. At temperatures as high as 40°–41°C, straight hinge M. mercenaria and C. virginica sustained low mortality for more than 2 h and on this basis were judged to be the most “temperature-shock” resistant of all larvae investigated. However, younger stages showed no significant differences between M. mercenaria, C. virginica or M. lateralis, and we conclude that these three species are generally very similar in their larval resistance to thermal increase. All three are more euryhaline than are the remaining two polyhaline or marine species.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Abbott, R. F.: American seashells, Second Edition. New York: Van Nostrand 1975
Cain, T. D.: The combined effects of temperature and salinity on embryos and larvae of the clam Rangia cuneata. Mar. biol. 21, 1–6 (1973)
Calabrese, A.: Individual and combined effects of salinity and temperature on embryos and larvae of the coot clam, Mulinia lateralis (Say). Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 137, 417–428 (1969)
Davis, H. C. and A. Calabrese: Combined effects of temperature and salinity on development of eggs and growth of larvae of M. mercenaria and C. virginica. Fish. Bull., U.S. 63, 643–655 (1964)
Davis, H. C. and A. Calabrese. Survival and growth of larvae of the European oyster (Ostrea edulis L.) at different temperatures. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 136, 193–199 (1969)
Franz, D. R. and A. S. Merrill: Molluscan distribution patterns on the continental shelf of the Middle Atlantic Bight (Northeast Atlantic). Malacologia 19, 209–225 (1980a)
Franz, D. R. and A. S. Merrill: The origins and determinants of distribution of molluscan faunal groups on the shallow continental shelf of the Northwest Atlantic. Malacologia 19, 227–248 (1980b)
Hidu, H., W. H. Roosenburg, K. G. Drobeck, A. J. McErlean and J. A. Mihursky: Thermal tolerance of oyster larvae, Crassostrea virginica Gmelin, as related to power plant operation. Proc. natl Shellfish. Assn. 64, 102–110 (1974)
Hrs-Brenko, M.: Temperature and salinity requirements for embryonic development of Mytilus galloprovincialis Lmk. Thalassia Jugosl. 10, 131–138 (1974)
Hrs-Brenko, M. and A. Calabrese: The combined effects of salinity and temperature on embryos and larvae of the mussel Mytilus edulis. Mar. Biol. 4, 224–226 (1969)
Kennedy, V. S., W. H. Roosenburg, H. H. Zion and M. Castagna: Temperature-time relationships for survival of embryos and larvae of Mulinia lateralis (Mollsca: Bivalvia). Mar. Biol. 24, 137–145 (1974a)
Kennedy, V. S., W. H. Roosenburg, M. Castagna and J. A. Mihursky: Mercenaria mercenaria (Mollusca: Bivalvia): temperature-time relationships for survival of embryos and larvae. Fish. Bull., U.S. 72, 1160–1166 (1974b)
Lough, R. G.: A reevaluation of the combined effects of temperature and salinity on survival and growth of bivalve larvae using response surface techniques. Fish. Bull., U.S. 73, 86–94 (1975)
Lough, R. G. and J. J. Gonor: A response-surface approach to the combined effects of temperature and salinity on the larval development of Adula californiensis (Pelecypoda: Mytilidae). I. Survival and growth of three- and fifteen-day old larvae. Mar. Biol. 22, 241–250 (1973a)
Lough, R. G. and J. J. Gonor: A response-surface approach to the combined effects of temperature and salinity on the larval development of Adula californiensis (Pelecypoda: Mytilidae). II. Long-term larval survival and growth in relation to respiration. Mar. Biol. 22, 295–305 (1973b)
MacInnes, J. R. and A. Calabrese: Combined effects of salinity, temperature and copper on embryos and early larvae of the American oyster, Crassostrea virginica. Arch. environm. Contam. Toxicol. 8, 553–562 (1979)
Mauer, D., L. Watling and G. Aprill: The distribution and ecology of common marine and estuarine pelecypods in the Delaware Bay area. Nautilus 88, 38–45 (1974)
Tettelbach, S. T. and E. W. Rhodes: Combined effects of temperature and salinity on embryos and larvae of the northern bay scallop Argopecten irradians irradians. Mar. Biol. 63, 249–256 (1981)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by S. K. Pierce, College Park
Contribution No. 1442 of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental and Estuarine Studies
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wright, D.A., Kennedy, V.S., Roosenburg, W.H. et al. Temperature tolerance of embryos and larvae of five bivalve species under simulated power plant entrainment conditions: a synthesis. Mar. Biol. 77, 271–278 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00395816
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00395816