Behavioral responses to heat stress in a North Pacific bivalve (Macoma nasuta)

Abstract

To assess the effects of heat stress on bent-nosed clams (Macoma nasuta) I measure relative siphon length as a behavioral response for individual bivalves kept at their preferred temperatures and for those placed in a heated tank, over a period of five hours. The results of this study provide no evidence to support a link between water temperature and siphon extension; however, bivalves placed in a heated tank do appear to show a reduced or entirely absent siphon retraction response when threatened, though further study is needed to provide definitive support for this trend and the mechanism behind it.