Connecticut College researcher’s bivalve feeding review selected for BioOne Vista environmental policy collection
image: (A) Diagram of a bivalve ctenidium with a homorhabdic structure composed of ordinary filaments, as observed using video endoscopy (orientation: ventral foreground and dorsal background). The ctenidium is inserted between the LP to the right, and particles trapped in a cohesive mucus string are being transported toward the palps in the ventral groove (VG). Offset panel shows a cross section of two ordinary filaments, three major ciliary tracts (F = frontal, LF = laterofrontal, and L = lateral), and particle movement at the time of capture. (B) Representation of bivalves that possess small laterofrontal cilia (e.g., scallops), creating a smaller area of hydrodynamic particle entrainment (dashed oval), resulting in lower CE for small particles. (C) Representation of bivalves that possess larger laterofrontal cirri (e.g., mussels), creating a larger area of hydrodynamic particle entrainment (dashed oval), resulting in higher CE for small particles (see Ward et al. 1998 for full explanation). Arrows show the direction of water flow across and between filaments. Open circles represent particles before and after being captured by the filaments. Figures adapted after Ward (1996) and Ward et al. (1998).
Credit: Maria Rosa, J. Evan Ward, Sandra E. Shumway
Connecticut College Associate Professor of Biology Maria Rosa is featured in this month’s BioOne Vista collection for her recent review on suspension-feeding bivalves and their role in aquatic ecosystems.
The article, “Selective Capture and Ingestion of Particles by Suspension-Feeding Bivalve Molluscs: A Review,” was published in the Journal of Shellfish Research and examines how species like oysters and mussels feed by selecting specific particles from their environment. The work, co-authored by J. Evan Ward and Sandra E. Shumway, outlines the biological and ecological implications of this process for water quality, ecosystem restoration and sustainable aquaculture.
The review was selected for BioOne Vista’s Environmental Policy Collection, which curates research that informs environmental management and policy decisions.
“This research pulls together years of findings to help us better understand how bivalves contribute to coastal health,” said Rosa. “We’re proud it’s being recognized for its broader impact on environmental planning and marine sustainability.”
The article was published by the National Shellfisheries Association and is available online: https://doi.org/10.2983/035.037.0405