Mya arenaria - an ancient invader of the North Sea coast

Authors
Citation
M. Strasser, Mya arenaria - an ancient invader of the North Sea coast, HELG MEER, 52(3-4), 1998, pp. 309-324
Citations number
128
Categorie Soggetti
Aquatic Sciences
Journal title
HELGOLANDER MEERESUNTERSUCHUNGEN
ISSN journal
01743597 → ACNP
Volume
52
Issue
3-4
Year of publication
1998
Pages
309 - 324
Database
ISI
SICI code
0174-3597(1998)52:3-4<309:MA-AAI>2.0.ZU;2-F
Abstract
Mya arenaria currently occupies a wide geographical range in the northern h emisphere, on both coasts of the Atlantic as well as on the Pacific east co ast. Some authors claim it also occurs on the Pacific west coast. The speci es originated in the Pacific during the Miocene and was already present on both Atlantic coasts in the Pliocene. However, it died out on the east coas ts of the Pacific and the Atlantic during glaciation of the Pleistocene. Wi th the aid of man it was reintroduced to the North Sea some 400-700 years a go and to the East Pacific last century. In the 1960s it was also introduce d to the Black Sea. M. arenaria invaded new habitats by different modes: (1 ) natural range expansion (2) intentional as plantings, (3) unintentional a s a ballast species and (4) unintentional as a byproduct of oyster transpla nts. Properties that may favor its wide range of distribution and invading success are: high fecundity; planktonic dispersal stages and life stages th at lend itself to unintentional transport by humans; a broad spectrum of ha bitat and food preference; tolerance of a wide range of environmental condi tions such as salinity and temperature; longevity, and perhaps relatively l arge size.