Giant Clams Coley Loudermilk and Grey Poplin

● Different species in the same environment ● Recognize patterns ● Growth Introduction: Why we chose it

Phylum: Mollusca Class: Bivalvia Identification

● Rely on food and light ● Filter feeders ● Food sources: plankton and/or Symbiodinium(Castro/ Huber 380) ● Rely on symbiotic zooxanthellae in their mantles o Not enough plankton for them on coral reefs (Karleskint 151) ● Provide Symbiodinium with nitrogen and carbon dioxide Introduction: Background of Clam

1.What is the typical growth rate of clams? 2.Does water temperature affect the growth of clams? 3.Because the clams belong to different species, does the amount of light they need in order to grow differ? 4.If giant clams are placed at different depths in the tank, will their overall growth differ? 5.Does any specific food or nutrient improve giant clams growth? - fed plankton indirectly Introduction: Research Questions

● Giant Clams by Daniel Knop ● Giant Clams in the Sea and the Aquarium by James Fatherree ● Growth of Cultured Clams by Robert J Toonen ● Intro to Marine Bio by George Karles Kint Jr. Background of Literature

Hypothesis: If different species of clams are placed in the same tank with same amount of light and food source, then the clams will all show different patterns of growth according to their genetics Introduction: Hypothesis

Plan: ●Research how a clams growth can change when their environment is altered through light and food source ●Change the amount of light and food intake in the frag tank ●Lighting is very essential to the wellbeing of giant clams because it allows them to gain energy in order to grow. To give their symbiodinium maximum light, giant clams drape their mantle over the sides of their shells in order to be fully exposed (Karleskint 293). ●Collect data, which will allow us to observe any changes ●Measure each clams growth daily and test the temperature, pH, salinity, and alkalinity of the frag tank in order to maintain a comfortable environment for our clams to live and grow in ●When collecting all of this data from the Frag Tank, we will record it on data sheets to organize what we have found Materials and Methods: Research Plan

Experiments: ● Shade ● Calcium levels Materials: saltwater tank (frag), metal halide lights and actinic lights, food, ruler, thermometer, hydrometer, pH test kit, alkalinity test kit Materials and Methods: Research Plan

Datasheet

●Squamosa: 30 to 40 cm in length ●Maxima: 30 to 40 cm in length ●Deresa: 50 to 60 cm in length ●Our clams started out as 5.5 cm, 5 cm, and 5 cm ●Giant Clams in the Sea and the Aquarium - James Fatherree 1.What is the typical growth rate?

●Growth rate of clams increases at higher temps (86 degrees fahrenheit ) ●Grow fastest at temps just below what would kill them ●77 degrees fahrenheit is a stable temperature ●Giant Clams in the Sea and the Aquarium - James Fatherree 2. Does temperature affect growth?

4. Does any specific food or nutrient improve giant clams growth? 5. If giant clams are placed at different depths in the tank, will their overall growth differ? 3. Because the clams belong to different species, does the amount of light they need in order to grow differ?

Graph: Monthly Average Growth

Graph: Metal Halide vs Actinic Lights

Clam Videos

Hypothesis: If different species of clams are placed in the same tank with same amount of light and food source, then the clams will all show different patterns of growth according to their genetics. Maxima: 5.5cm - 6.5cm Derasa: 5cm Squamosa: 5.5cm Reflection on Hypothesis

● Restrictions ● Derasa died - hermit crabs (Giant Clams by Daniel Knop) ● Salinity levels (James Fatherre) Challenges

● Alter temperature ● Add calcium to overflow (Giant Clams in the Sea and the Aquarium - James Fatherree) More Complete...

● Based around finding ways to help the clams grow ● Clams did not grow significantly over the 65 days of observing them ● In order for noticeable clam growth you must change the frag tank conditions drastically ● The mantle of the clams grew while the shell did not Research and Results

● Place clams at all different depths to observe growth ● Reef holders ● Make sure clams are not handled often ● Check calcium levels more often Future

B ay Aquarium, Montery. "Giant Clam Natural History." Montery Bay Aquarium. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Oct guide/invertebrates/giant-clam Benzie, John A. H., and Suzanne T. Williams. "Genetic Structure of Giant Clam Populations in the West Pacific is Not Consistent with Dispersal by Present-Day Ocean Currents." Society for the Study of Evolution: n. pag. Jstor. Web. 2 Oct Castro, Peter, and Michael E. Huber. Marine Biology. N.p.: McGraw Hill, Print. Karleskint, George, Jr. Introduction to Marine Biology. Orlando: Saunders College Publishing, n.d. Print. Kunzmann, A. "Physiological Performance of Giant Clams in a Recirculation System." Nova. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Oct Neigut, Barry. "Giant Clam Basics." Fish Channel. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Oct Toonen, Robert J., et al. "Growth of Cultured Giant Clams." Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom: n.in Growth of Cultured Giant Clams. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Print. Wilkens, Lon A. "Visual Adaptations in Tridacna: Behavioral Adaptions." Biological Bulletin: n. pag. Jstor. Web. 2 Oct Fatherree, James. Giant Clams in the Sea and the Aquarium. Tampa, Florida: Liquid Medium, Print. Knop, Daniel. Giant Clams. N.p.: Kraft Druck GmbH, Print. Gilbert, Antoine, et al. "The Giant clam Tridacna maxima communities of three French Polynesia islands: comparison of their population sizes and structures at early stages of their exploitation." Oxford Journals (2006): n. pag. Print. Bibliography