Shell Growth in the Scallop Argopecten irradians. I. Isotope Incorporation with Reference to Diurnal Growth

Authors

Alfred P. Wheeler, Duke University
Patricia Blackwelder, Duke UniversityFollow
Karl M. Wilbur, Duke University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1975

Publication Title

Biological Bulletin

ISSN

0006-3185

Volume

148

Issue/No.

3

First Page

472

Last Page

482

Abstract

1. Incorporation of calcium and carbonate into shell has been studied in the scallop Argopecten irradians using ⁴⁵Ca and ¹⁴C-bicarbonate.

2. The incorporation of ⁴⁵Ca and ¹⁴C-carbonate into shell was linear with time after a lag period of 1 to 2 hours. The shell-forming mantle tissue attained a steady state with respect to ⁴⁵Ca in the sea water medium within 2 hours.

3. The molar ratio of ⁴⁵Ca to ¹⁴C-carbonate deposited in shell was not significantly different from unity during 5 hours.

4. The rate of incorporation of ¹⁴C-carbonate into shell was highest at the ventral edge and extremely low in the central and hinge areas.

5. The rate of incorporation at the ventral shell edge did not change with increase in shell size.

6. The rate of incorporation of carbonate was low at night when growth ridges form and increased 3-fold at midday when growth ridges are not being formed.

7. The protein content of the shell ridges was 32.9 ± 3.9% and the protein content of the shell including ridges was 16.0 ± 2.1%.

Comments

©1975, The University of Chicago Press

Additional Comments

National Institute of Dental Research grant #: DE 01382-12

NSUWorks Citation

Alfred P. Wheeler, Patricia Blackwelder, and Karl M. Wilbur. 1975. Shell Growth in the Scallop Argopecten irradians. I. Isotope Incorporation with Reference to Diurnal Growth .Biological Bulletin , (3) : 472 -482. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/834.

DOI

10.2307/1540523