Borrero Francisco J
Biol Bull. 1987 Aug;173(1):160-168. doi: 10.2307/1541869.
High tidal populations of the mussel Geukensia demissa experience reduced filter feeding time as a result of aerial exposure. This study tested the hypothesis that such populations exhibit a temporal delay in their gametogenic cycle compared to populations from the low intertidal. As predicted, quantitative estimations of gametogenic condition of mussels from 10 high tidal populations were lower than those of mussels from 11 low intertidal populations in May 1986. A two-fold difference in potential feeding time was accompanied by a delay of about two months in the reproductive activity of high tidal mussels. This study demonstrates that temporal reproductive variation among populations of G. demissa across the intertidal zone may be as large, or larger than variation among latitudinally separated populations of this species. Site-to-site variation in timing of reproduction within the North Inlet Estuary may also be as large as temporal latitudinal variation. Level of occurrence in the intertidal zone and hence length of submersion and potential feeding time exert profound influence in the timing of the reproductive cycle of the ribbed mussel, Geukensia demissa.
由于暴露在空气中，高潮带的贻贝（Geukensia demissa）种群滤食时间减少。本研究检验了这样一个假设：与低潮间带的种群相比，这些种群的配子发生周期存在时间延迟。正如所预测的，1986年5月，对10个高潮带种群的贻贝配子发生状况进行的定量估计低于11个低潮间带种群的贻贝。潜在摄食时间的两倍差异伴随着高潮带贻贝繁殖活动约两个月的延迟。本研究表明，潮间带不同位置的G. demissa种群之间的繁殖时间差异可能与该物种在纬度上分离的种群之间的差异一样大，甚至更大。北入口河口内不同地点繁殖时间的差异也可能与纬度上的时间差异一样大。潮间带的出现水平以及因此的淹没时间和潜在摄食时间对有肋贻贝（Geukensia demissa）的繁殖周期时间有深远影响。
