Species profiles: life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (Pacific Southwest): Common littleneck clam. [Protothaca staminea]

Technical Report · Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6711465

Shaw, W N

Common littleneck clam (Protothaca staminea) supports an important sport fishery in the Pacific Southwest Region, but has no commercial importance. The species is distributed from Alaska to Baja, California. The egg develops into the trochophore stage 12 h after fertilization, and the planktonic larval stage lasts about 3 weeks. Adults usually mature in the second or third year of life. Mortality is greatest early in life. Intraspecific competition among adults is more evident in mud than in sand. Most littleneck clams live in the lower intertidal zone. Littleneck clams concentrate heavy metals and are highly sensitive to copper.

• Research Organization: Humboldt State Univ., Trinidad, CA (USA). Fred Telonicher Marine Lab.; Fish and Wildlife Service, Slidell, LA (USA). National Wetlands Research Center
• OSTI ID: 6711465
• Report Number(s): TR-EL-82-4/82-11.46; ON: TI86901603
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CLAMS
ECOLOGY
COASTAL WATERS
FISHING INDUSTRY
HABITAT
PACIFIC OCEAN
REPRODUCTION
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
INDUSTRY
INVERTEBRATES
MOLLUSCS
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
520100* - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- (-1989)