BIOTIC Species Information for Nucula nitidosa
Researched byLizzie Tyler Data supplied byUniversity of Sheffield
Refereed byThis information is not refereed.
Taxonomy
Scientific nameNucula nitidosa Common nameBivalve mollusc
MCS CodeW1569 Recent SynonymsNucula turgida (Leckenby & Marshall, 1875), Nucula moorei (Winckworth, 1931).

PhylumMollusca Subphylum
Superclass ClassPelecypoda
Subclass OrderNuculoida
Suborder FamilyNuculidae
GenusNucula Speciesnitidosa
Subspecies   

Additional InformationNo text entered
Taxonomy References Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Tebble, 1976, Howson & Picton, 1997,
General Biology
Growth formBivalved
Feeding methodSurface deposit feeder
Sub-surface deposit feeder
Mobility/MovementCrawler
Burrower
Environmental positionInfaunal
Typical food typesMicrozooplankton, organic and inorganic particles and microbes. HabitFree living
Bioturbator FlexibilityNone (< 10 degrees)
FragilityIntermediate SizeSmall(1-2cm)
HeightInsufficient information Growth RateSee additional information
Adult dispersal potential100-1000m DependencyIndependent
SociabilitySolitary
Toxic/Poisonous?No
General Biology Additional InformationProtobranchs
Nucula nitidosa is a protobranch, a primitive form of bivalve that lacks the extensive gills typical of most bivalves and is, therefore, an obligate deposit feeder (Davis & Wilson, 1985).

Feeding
Nucula nitidosa is a selective deposit feeder that feeds on a variety of microzooplankton, organic and inorganic matter, and microbes including bacteria and fungi. Protobranchs maintain contact with the substratum by a pair of tentacles, elongations of the margins of the mouth. Each tentacle is associated with a large fold composed of two flaps, called a labial palp, one located to either side of the mouth (Ruppert & Barnes, 1994). During feeding, the palp probosci are extended between the ventral side immediately posterior to the head of the foot (Yonge, 1939). The probosci extend beyond the confines of the shell and actively search for food particles in the sediment. Material is collected by the tip and passes, by way of a ciliated groove, to the base of the proboscis. Here the food particles are transferred to the inner surface of the pouch which conveys them between the palp lamellae where food is sorted out by the action of complex series of ciliary tracts (Yonge, 1939).

It was reported that Nucula nitidosa was also able to feed from inhaled suspensions (Caspers, 1940; cited in Rachor, 1976). This filter feeding ability was demonstrated but shown to be of little importance for Nucula nitidosa (Trevallion, 1965; cited in Rachor, 1976). Nucula nitidosa may assist in the incorporation of organic material into the ecosystem in two ways. Firstly Nucula nitidosa may eat the organic matter present and convert it into flesh, providing food for predators such as flatfish (Blegvad, 1928; cited in Davis & Wilson, 1985). Secondly, Nucula nitidosa may alter the character of the organic matter, for example by producing faeces.

Growth
It has proved difficult to get a clear idea of the growth rate of Nucula nitidosa from shell ring analysis (Ford, 1925, Allen, 1953b). It has been suggested that this is due to great variability in reproductive behaviour and possibly growth (Rachor, 1976). In the German Bight, the annual growth rate of young Nucula nitidosa was at least 3.5 mm in the first year of life, while older Nucula nitidosa grew more slowly (1 mm and less during subsequent years) (Rachor & Salzwedel, 1976). Allen (1953b, 1954) calculated a maximum age of 12 years for individuals of Nucula nitidosa that were 12 mm long. This value was revised because Allen (1954) did not take the faster growth of juveniles into consideration (Rachor & Salzwedel, 1976). Rachor (1976) assumed that an individual of 3-4 mm in length was 1 year old with a further growth of 1 mm per year, and revised estimates showed that larger individuals around 12 mm in length were 9 years old rather than 12 years. It was also reported that weight increments decrease with age when Nucula nitidosa reach a length of 6.5 mm (Rachor, 1976).

Abundance
Populations of Nucula nitidosa can increase markedly when the bottom sediments are suitable. Petersen (1977) reported that the density of Nucula nitidosa was highest at depths shallower than 50 m (Petersen, 1977). For example:

  • In the German Bight between 1969 and 1974 the average density of Nucula nitidosa was 498 ind/m² (Rachor, 1976);
  • in Aberdeen Bay the species makes up only 6% of the bivalve population on a bottom of coarse sand but 74% when the bottom consisted of fine sand (Tebble, 1976); and
  • in Dublin Bay, a mean density of 350 ind/m² was reported for Nucula nitidosa (Wilson, 1983b).

Biomass and Production
According to Stripp (1969; cited in Rachor & Salzwedel, 1976), Nucula nitidosa is the dominant species of the Abra alba community in the German Bight and was found to contribute 23% to the mean macrobenthic biomass of this community. The production of Nucula nitidosa in the German Bight was estimated by Rachor (1976) from seasonal differences in body weights. Trevallion (1965 cited in Davis & Wilson, 1985) calculated some of the components of the energy budget for the closely related Nucula sulcata from British waters. Both studies suggested that about 50% of the total production was allocated to gonad output, a figure considerably in excess of that shown by other bivalves. In Dublin Bay, the production of Nucula nitidosa was 20 KJ m²/yr, which accounted for about 23% of the total benthic productivity of the Bay (Davis & Wilson, 1985).

Mobility
Nucula nitidosa can be found beneath the surface of the sediments from a few millimetres to a few centimetres deep, where it can dig and creep amongst the sediments. It has been suggested that Nucula nitidosa can move a few to several centimetres per day (Rachor, 1976).

Respiration
Nucula nitidosa is a representative of the primitive bivalve condition (Purchon, 1968; cited in Holmes et al., 2002). Nucula nitidosa has a comparatively small underdeveloped gill functioning solely as a respiratory organ (Yonge, 1939).

Supports which species
Rachor (1976) reported that epizoic ciliates and hydroid polyps can sometimes be found on the ventral margins of the shells of Nucula nitidosa. Edwards (1965) also reported that the hydroid Neoturris pileata was found living commensally on Nucula nitidosa. Neoturris pileata may impair mobility and interfere with shell growth (Edwards, 1965).

Biology References Tebble, 1976, Davis & Wilson, 1985, Rachor, 1976, Rachor & Salzwedel, 1976, Petersen, 1977, Yonge, 1939, Davis & Wilson, 1983b, Allen, 1953b, Edwards, 1965, Ford, 1925, Allen, 1954, Ruppert & Barnes, 1994, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Julie Bremner, unpub data,
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & IrelandOccurs on all British coasts where the substratum is suitable.
Global distributionDistributed from Norway, south to the Mediterranean and West Africa.
Biogeographic rangeNot researched Depth range0 - 100 m
MigratoryNon-migratory / Resident   
Distribution Additional Information

Substratum preferencesFine clean sand
Muddy sand
Sandy mud
Physiographic preferencesOpen coast
Offshore seabed
Biological zoneLower Eulittoral
Sublittoral Fringe
Upper Infralittoral
Lower Infralittoral
Upper Circalittoral
Lower Circalittoral
Wave exposureExposed
Moderately Exposed
Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flowModerately Strong (1-3 kn)
Weak (<1 kn)
SalinityFull (30-40 psu)
Habitat Preferences Additional Information
Distribution References Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Tebble, 1976, Seaward, 1982, Rachor, 1976, NBN, 2002, Picton & Costello, 1998, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Julie Bremner, unpub data,
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive typeGonochoristic
Developmental mechanismLecithotrophic
Reproductive SeasonAutumn Reproductive LocationInsufficient information
Reproductive frequencyAnnual protracted Regeneration potential No
Life span6-10 years Age at reproductive maturity1-2 years
Generation timeSee additional information Fecundity
Egg/propagule size120 µm diameter Fertilization typeInsufficient information
Larvae/Juveniles
Larval/Juvenile dispersal potentialSee additional information Larval settlement periodInsufficient information
Duration of larval stage2-10 days   
Reproduction Preferences Additional InformationSexual maturity
In a population of Nucula nitidosa in Dublin Bay most individuals became sexually mature in their second year (Davis & Wilson, 1983b).

Reproduction
Trevallion (1965; cited in Rachor, 1976) reported that in UK waters, Nucula nitidosa matures from spring to summer and spawns in autumn. No winter spawning was observed. However, according to Allen (1953b, 1954) reproduction during winter is probable in British waters. In Dublin Bay, Davis & Wilson (1985) reported that the gametes of Nucula nitidosa were ripening during June and August. In mid September one single spawning event was reported when over 90% of the sexually mature population spawned (Wilson & Davis, 1938b). It was also suggested that low level spawning may commence in July (Davis & Wilson, 1983a). Davis & Wilson (1938a) suggest the reason for the differences in different populations of Nucula nitidosa is uncertain but may be due to intraspecific differences.

Nucula nitidosa produces unusually large eggs with a high lipid content for a bivalve, which helps to sustain the leicthotrophic development of the larvae (Wilson, 1992). Lebour (1938) reported that the length of Nucula nitidosa eggs was about 90 µm. Whereas Rachor (1976) and Davis & Wilson (1983a) reported that the size of Nucula nitidosa eggs ranged from 100-150 µm

Survival of larvae
Wilson (1992) estimated that for a population of Nucula nitidosa spawning, effort would be around 1.1 million potential recruits annually and that survivorship from a juvenile state to appearance in the adult population would be just 1 in 10,000.

Longevity
Nucula nitidosa were thought to have a life-span of over 20 years (Allen, 1953b). But subsequent studies on population structure and productivity in the German Bight suggested a life -span of 12 years (Rachor, 1976), and in Dublin Bay, a life-span of 5-7 years was reported (Davis & Wilson, 1983b, 1985), which suggested a more normal life-span of some 7-10 years (Wilson, 1992).

Mortality rates
Rachor (1976) reported that the mortality rate of Nucula nitidosa was very uncertain. A population of Nucula nitidosa was studied in Dublin Bay. Low larval and adult mortality rates were reported for several years, which was followed by high mortality when adults reached old age (Davis & Wilson, 1983b).
Reproduction References Lebour, 1938, Davis & Wilson, 1985, Rachor, 1976, Wilson, 1992, Davis & Wilson, 1983b, Davis & Wilson, 1983a, Allen, 1953b, Allen, 1954, Julie Bremner, unpub data,
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