Skip to main content
Log in

The Byssus Morphology and Strength of Attachment to Substrate in the Bivalve Mollusk Arca boucardi Jousseaume, 1894 (Arcidae)

  • SHORT COMMUNICATION
  • Published:
Russian Journal of Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We observed the behavior of the bivalve mollusk Arca boucardi during reattachment of the mollusk to plexiglass. According to our observations, after 0.5–4 h of active movement in search of a suitable place, the mollusks began to form a byssus and secreted a transparent discharge. After 9–10 h a new byssus formed, which did not fundamentally differ from the old one. It was shown that the byssus is a monolithic relatively elastic green band with an adhesive sole in the distal part and a system of septa in the proximal cavity that serves for attaching the muscles responsible for the byssus function. Field studies to evaluate the adhesion strength of mollusks to the substrate have shown that the strength varies from a few hundred grams to 23.5 kg, depending on the size of mollusk. The data are discussed in terms of the functional morphology and peculiarities of the spatial distribution of A. boucardi in the upper subintertidal zone.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Evseev, G.A. and Yakovlev, Yu.M., Dvustvorchatye mollyuski dal’nevostochnykh morei (Bivalve Molluscs of the Far Eastern Seas), Vladivostok: PK Polikon, 2006.

  2. Pogrebov, V.B. and Kashenko, V.P., Bottom communities of solid soils in Vostok Bay, Sea of Japan in Biologicheskie issledovaniya zaliva Vostok (Biological Research in the Vostok Bay), Vladivostok: Dal’nevost. Nauch Tsentr Akad. Nauk SSSR, 1976, pp. 63–82.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Selin, N.I., The composition and structure of a mixed population of Crenomytilus grayanus (Dunker, 1853) and Modiolus kurilensis (Bernard, 1983) (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) in Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan, Russ. J. Mar. Biol., 2018, vol. 44, no. 5, pp. 363–372.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Selin, N.I., Ontogenetic variation in the byssal attachment strength of Modiolus kurilensis Bernard, 1983 (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) in connection with spatial organization in druses, Russ. J. Mar. Biol., 2018, vol. 44, no. 6, pp. 496–499.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Selin, N.I. and Vekhova, E.E., Morphology of the bivalve mollusks Crenomytilus grayanus and Mytilus coruscus in relation to their spatial distribution in the upper subtidal zone, Russ. J. Mar. Biol., 2002, vol. 28, no. 3, pp. 213–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Selin, N.I. and Vekhova, E.E., Effects of environmental factors on byssal thread formation in some members of the family Mytilidae from the Sea of Japan, Russ. J. Mar. Biol., 2004, vol. 30, no. 5, pp. 306–313.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Scarlato, O.A., Dvustvorchatyye mollyuski umerennykh shirot zapadnoy chasti Tikhogo okeana (Bivalve Molluscs at the Temperate Latitudes of the Western Pacific), Leningrad: Nauka, 1981.

  8. Skarlato, O.A., Golikov, A.N., Vasilenko, S.V., et al., The composition, structure, and distribution of benthic biocenoses in the coastal waters of Possyet Bay (Sea of Japan), Issled. Fauny Morei, 1967, vol. 5, no. 13, pp. 5–61.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Meadows, P.S. and Shand, P., Experimental analysis of byssus thread production by Mytilus edulis and Modiolus modiolus in sediments, Mar. Biol., 1989, vol. 101, no. 2, pp. 219–226.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Price, H.A., Seasonal variation in the strength of byssal attachment of the common mussel Mytilus edulis L., J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. U. K., 1980, vol. 60, no. 4, pp. 1035–1037.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Stanley, S.M., Functional morphology and evolution of byssally attached bivalve mollusks, J. Paleontol., 1972, vol. 46, no. 2, pp. 165–212.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. I. Selin.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interests. The author declares that there is no conflict of interest.

Statement on the welfare of animals. All applicable international, national and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals have been followed.

Additional information

Translated by I. Barsegova

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Selin, N.I. The Byssus Morphology and Strength of Attachment to Substrate in the Bivalve Mollusk Arca boucardi Jousseaume, 1894 (Arcidae). Russ J Mar Biol 47, 403–406 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063074021050114

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063074021050114

Keywords:

Navigation