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Rice University

Publication Date

Fall 2023

Program Name

Australia: Rainforest, Reef, and Cultural Ecology

Abstract

Coral reef ecosystems are facing destruction at the hands of anthropogenic climate change. Therefore, it is essential that we move to better understand the ecosystem functions of the organisms present in reefs. One such family whose ecosystem function we are unfamiliar with are the giant clams (family Cardiidae). As unique and abundant macrofauna, they have the potential to play an important role in their environment. The goal of our study was to determine how giant clams function as settlement substrata. We conducted 151 observational surveys of epibionts residing on living giant clam shells and of the organism communities in the surrounding substrate, in reefs around Lizard Island, Queensland. From our surveys, it was clear that the surrounding substrate had higher percent cover of corals, but giant clam shells had higher percent cover of non-coral organisms. Most notably were ascidians, which were found on over 50% of surveyed clams. Additionally, clam shells were able to support different epibiont communities depending on the surrounding substrate type; clams in non-living substrate had higher percent organism cover than clams in hard coral dominated areas, clams in sandy habitats had the highest percent non-coral organism cover, and clams residing in rubble had the highest percent hard coral cover. While this is only one way in which giant clams contribute to their ecosystems, their ability to support other organism communities is meaningful. Perhaps, if we are unable to mitigate coral reef habitat destruction, giant clams can be used in restoration efforts to increase biodiversity of non-coral organisms and rejuvenate reef ecosystems.

Disciplines

Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Monitoring | Marine Biology | Oceanography | Research Methods in Life Sciences | Zoology

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