how do clams photosynthesise?

[perky]

Hi,

my science teacher wants me to tell him how tropical clams photosynthesise?

can any of you shed some light here?

cheers

perky

 

[mbbuna]

The only tropical clams that I know of that photosynthesize are Tridacna and Hippopus species. Thru evolution they have converted there syphonal mantle into a home and breading ground for there symbiotic algae,zooxnthellae.The zooxnthellae convert the light into sugar that the clams use for food.
This thread get a little more in depth on how zooaxnthellae do this.www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2654&page=1 Hope this helps
Chris

 

[deedo]

If you want a primary source to read and to show your science teacher check out:

Morphology of the Symbiosis Between Corculum cardissa (Mollusca: Bivalvia) and Symbiodinium corculorum (Dinophyceae)
This was in The Biological Bulletin in 2000 and it's a free article.
go to:
http://www.biolbull.org/cgi/content...9&stored_search=&FIRSTINDEX=10&resourcetype=1
and download the pdf. IMO it helps to have primary literature based on real peer reveiwed research to settle things like this. It just sounds better than "a bunch of people on RC said."
andy

 

[deedo]

here's another free paper that talks about various marine algae-host relationships and the nature of the molecules they swap.

http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/conte...4&stored_search=&FIRSTINDEX=20&resourcetype=1

 

[mbbuna]

deedo, cool links!

 

[perky]

thanks guys. my science teacher would find these links useful.

perky

 

[deedo]

no problem! I love to kick science out whenever possible. One of my favorite things about this hobby is it's capacity to excite people about science.
If you ever want to find current research on anything I recommend: http://highwire.stanford.edu/
Try typing in acropora or wrasse or anything you keep and you'll be astonished by how deep the rabbit hole goes!

andy

 

[perky]

thanks deedo