title: Physiological disturbance of the Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum, by altered environmental conditions in a tidal flat on the west coast of Korea.
abstract: To examine the influence of habitat alteration by tideflat reclamation on the physiological ecology of Ruditapes philippinarum, seasonal variations in its condition, gross biochemical composition, and reproductive cycle were compared for a yearly cycle between a reclaimed flat (Gomsohang, GS) and a natural flat (Hajun, HJ) in Gomso Bay, Korea. Concentrations of chlorophyll a and seston (as well as its energy value as food available to the clam) were consistently higher at HJ than at GS. Condition, dry tissue weight, and energy reserves (proteins and carbohydrates) of the clams were much higher at HJ than at GS during spring-summer, when fast growth and gametogenic development occur. Furthermore, their spring gametogenic development and spawning were advanced at HJ compared with GS. Our results suggest that the Manila clam encounters nutritionally stressful environmental conditions in altered habitats after tideflat reclamation that lead to lowered nutrient accumulation and a changing reproductive cycle.
authors.affiliation: Ocean Science and Technology Institute, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 790-784, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min Jeong
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.affiliation: Ocean Science and Technology Institute, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 790-784, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Jae
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: School of Marine Biomedical Science and Marine and Environmental Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju 690-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang-Sik
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Marine Environment Research Division, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Busan 619-705, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Won Chan
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Ocean Science and Technology Institute, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 790-784, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Je
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Ocean Science and Technology Institute, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 790-784, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.affiliation: Ocean Science and Technology Institute, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 790-784, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: ckkang@postech.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Chang-Keun
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000502:physiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D012098:Reproduction; D056910:Republic of Korea; D013312:Stress, Physiological
keywords: Biochemical composition; Food availability; Habitat alteration; Physiological disturbance; Reproductive cycle; Ruditapes philippinarum