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These shells don't clam up: Innovative technique to record human impact on coastal waters
December 03, 2008With their sedentary lifestyles and filter-feeding habits, clams have been silent witnesses to the changes that humans have inflicted upon their waters. These clams are silent no more, as Dr. Ruth H. Carmichael of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and her colleagues have reported in their recent paper in the prestigious journal Aquatic Biology. Using stable isotope techniques, Carmichael demonstrated it is possible to identify and trace wastewater inputs to estuaries and coastal food webs by studying the organic matrix in the shell of the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria.
This work presents a novel application of established biochemical techniques that can be applied to refine diet analyses for shellfish, trace nitrogen entry to coastal waters relative to changes in urbanization or climate, and help discern natural from human-driven influences on coastal ecosystems.
Using this new technique will allow coastal researchers and managers to document increases in waste loadings to coastal waters over longer periods of environmental change.
"This technique is exciting because it gives scientists and coastal managers a way to look into the past and trace human influences, in this case wastewater pollution, into local waters and ultimately into the organisms living there," said Dr. Carmichael. "Tools that help us define and trace specific sources of human-influence on our coastal waters are essential to inform management and future research efforts."
Dauphin Island Sea Lab
"This technique is exciting because it gives scientists and coastal managers a way to look into the past and trace human influences, in this case wastewater pollution, into local waters and ultimately into the organisms living there," said Dr. Carmichael. "Tools that help us define and trace specific sources of human-influence on our coastal waters are essential to inform management and future research efforts."
Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Clams Current Events and Clams News RSSAmphibians as environmental omen disputed
Amphibians, for years considered a leading indicator of environmental degradation, are not uniquely susceptible to pollution, according to a meta-analysis to be published in Ecology Letters.
Ocean acidification may contribute to global shellfish decline
Relatively minor increases in ocean acidity brought about by high levels of carbon dioxide have significant detrimental effects on the growth, development, and survival of hard clams, bay scallops, and Eastern oysters, according to researchers at Stony Brook University's School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences.
Annual Tahoe Report Says Asian Clam Invasion Is Growing Fast
Released today, UC Davis' annual Lake Tahoe health report describes a spreading Asian clam population that could put sharp shells and rotting algae on the spectacular mountain lake's popular beaches, possibly aid an invasion of quagga and zebra mussels, and even affect lake clarity and ecology.
Analysis finds strong match between molecular, fossil data in evolutionary studies
During a seminar at another institution several years ago, University of Chicago paleontologist David Jablonski fielded a hostile question: Why bother classifying organisms according to their physical appearance, let alone analyze their evolutionary dynamics, when molecular techniques had already invalidated that approach?
Researchers report 'moderately large' potential for red tide outbreak in Gulf of Maine region
The potential for an outbreak of the phenomenon commonly called "red tide" is expected to be "moderately large" this spring and summer, according to researchers with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and North Carolina State University (NCSU).
University of Copenhagen
Unchecked global warming would leave ocean dwellers gasping for breath. Dead zones are low-oxygen areas in the ocean where higher life forms such as fish, crabs and clams are not able to live. In shallow coastal regions, these zones can be caused by runoff of excess fertilizers from farming.
Danube Delta Holds Answers to 'Noah's Flood' Debate
Did a catastrophic flood of biblical proportions drown the shores of the Black Sea 9,500 years ago, wiping out early Neolithic settlements around its perimeter? A geologist with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and two Romanian colleagues report in the January issue of Quaternary Science Reviews that, if the flood occurred at all, it was much smaller than previously proposed by other researchers.
Food choices and location influence California sea otter exposure to disease
Sea otters living along the central California coast risk higher exposure to disease-causing parasites as a consequence of the food they eat and where they feed.
Brown Scientist Finds Coastal Dead Zones May Benefit Some Species
Coastal dead zones, an increasing concern to ecologists, the fishing industry and the public, may not be as devoid of life after all. A Brown scientist has found that dead zones do indeed support marine life, and that at least one commercially valuable clam actually benefits from oxygen-depleted waters.
Discovering drugs, biofuels in tropical seas
The National Institutes of Health has awarded $4 million to a group of Philippine and American scientists led by Oregon Health & Science University to aid in the discovery of new molecules and biofuels technology from marine mollusks for development in the Philippines.
More Clams Current Events and Clams News Articles
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Crown Prince Natural Boiled Baby Clams; 10-Ounce Cans (Pack of 12) by Crown Prince Delicate in flavor and firm in texture, Boiled Baby Clams provide a good source of protein and an excellent source of iron without a lot of fat, sodium or cholesterol. Try our boiled baby clams in chowders, casseroles, appetizers and pasta sauces. |
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Bar Harbor All Natural Chopped Clams, 6.5-Ounce Cans (Pack of 12) by Bar Harbor Premium, all natural. Quality is our Maine distinction. Chopped clams are excellent for salads, chowders, stews, fritters and stuffing. No artificial preservatives. No MSG. |
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Crown Prince Chopped Clams; 6.5-Ounce Cans (Pack of 12) by Crown Prince Imported from Chile, our Chopped Clams are light in color and delicate in flavor. These clams are a fat-free food and provide an excellent source of protein and a good source of iron. Try them in dips, pasta sauces and chowders. |
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Crown Prince Minced Clams; 6.5-Ounce Cans (Pack of 12) by Crown Prince Imported from Chile, our Minced Clams are light in color and delicate in flavor. These clams are a fat-free food and provide an excellent source of protein and a good source of iron. Try them in dips, pasta sauces and chowders. |
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Crown Prince Smoked Baby Clams in Oil; 3.75-Ounce Cans (Pack of 12) by Crown Prince Smoked Baby Clams are packed from the freshest clams available. Frozen clams are never used. This ensures that the product has a delicate smoke flavor with a firm texture. Only clams of uniform size and color are used. |
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Guppie, Clam by Columbia River The Guppie can be a handy wrench, knife, screwdriver, bottle opener, LED light,and hangs on a belt loop or D-ring. The removable bit carrier is also a highintensity LED light. It has two strong magnets to hold it securely to the left side. The adjustable wrench jaw opens to 1/2 so you can use it for all kinds of light repair and assembly jobs. It even opens bottles.Specifications:Blade Length: 2.0 (5.1 cm)Blade Steel: 3Cr13, 54-56 HRCHandle Length: 3.5 (8.9 cm)Tool Weight: 4.1 oz. (116 g)Bit Carrier Weight: 1.2 oz. (34 g) |
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Reese Smoked Baby Clams, 3.66-Ounce, 10-Count Cans by Reese Fancy cherry wood in cottonseed oil. Easy open can. Wild caught smoked baby clams. Product of China. |
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Quality Foods Progresso Seafood Sauce, White Clam, 10.5-Ounce Cans (Pack of 12) by Progresso White Clam Sauce - Inspired by an authentic Italian style recipe, Progresso White Clam Sauce is the perfect combination of tender Atlantic clams, sweet parsley and savory garlic. Slow simmered for exceptional flavor, this rich sauce brings the taste of Italy to your table. Discover the great taste of Progresso. |
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Giant Clams in the Sea and the Aquarium by James W. Fatherree (Author) Giant Clams in the Sea and the Aquarium provides comprehensive coverage of the biology and aquarium care of the unique and intriguing tridacnid clams, commonly called giants by aquarists and divers around the world. The book is an 8 x 9 hardback, printed on high-quality gloss paper, and includes over 300 color photographs and illustrations. |
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Roland Whole Pink Clams, 4-Ounce Cans (Pack of 6) by Roland |
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