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  • Experimental Ecosystems
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Ammonia-nitrogen production by the bivalve molluscTapes japonica and its recovery by the red seaweedHypnea musciformis in a tropical mariculture system

Helgoländer wissenschaftliche Meeresuntersuchungen volume 30, pages 217–229 (1977)Cite this article

Abstract

Production and recovery of ammonia-N was studied in the second and third trophic levels of a mariculture system on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. The diatomChaetoceros curvisetus, grown on nutrients in artificially upwelled deep water from 870 m depth, was the food source forTapes japonica. Consumption of the phytoplankton byT. japonica increased throughout the day and decreased at night, and was related to corresponding changes in algal culture density. Feeding efficiency was highest at night. Ammonia-N production by the clams fluctuated over a typical 24 h period; dropping during the day and increasing at night. The ammonia-N concentration in the shellfish tank effluent was inversely related to the quantity of phytoplankton consumed by the clams. At all ration levels the small clams produced ammonia-N at a greater rate than large clams.H. musciformis fragmented and washed out of some tanks; the fragmentation was related to high ammonia-N concentrations in the inflowing water. High light intensity and temperature alone do not appear to cause fragmentation, but may have induced a trace nutrient deficiency inH. musciformis grown in the ammonia-rich seawater. Where fragmentation was not obvious, ammonia-N uptake per gH. musciformis was highly correlated with the average ammonia-N concentration of the inflowing seawater both day and night. Percent uptake of ammonia-N increased with increasing concentration of the nutrient in the inflowing seawater, reaching a plateau of about 70% uptake of the available ammonia-N at concentrations above 4 μg-at/l.

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Author notes

  1. R. W. Langton

    Present address: Northeast Fisheries Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 02543, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Science Institute, St. Croix Marine Station, University of Texas, Kingsbill, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, USA

    R. W. Langton, K. C. Haines & R. E. Lyon

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  1. R. W. Langton
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  2. K. C. Haines
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  3. R. E. Lyon
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Langton, R.W., Haines, K.C. & Lyon, R.E. Ammonia-nitrogen production by the bivalve molluscTapes japonica and its recovery by the red seaweedHypnea musciformis in a tropical mariculture system. Helgolander Wiss. Meeresunters 30, 217–229 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02207837

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Helgoland Marine Research

ISSN: 1438-3888

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