Ecology of Arctica islandica
 
Main Ref. Jennings, S., J. Lancaster, A. Woolmer and J. Cotter, 1999
Remarks Prefer a temperature range of 1° to 18°C and, although found in brackish waters with salinity levels of 14 and higher, is intolerant of salinities below 10. Found in both shallow and deep waters with preferred depth range between 10 and 280 m. Having a short siphon, it buries shallow beneath the surface, in gravelly, sandy to muddy sediments, and sapropels but preferentially in fine, silty sediment. Maintains a stationary position once it has settled onto the substrate. May burrow below the sediment surface possibly to escape predators or to conserve energy by going into this anaerobic phase which can last up to 7 days. A suspension and detritus feeder on fresh organic matter; filters phytoplankton and able to pick up food particles from the seabed with the tentacles on the end of its siphon, it being a suspension feeder. Dioecious with reproduction continuous throughout the year. Late sexual maturity, at around 5 to 11 years, make its population sensitive to disturbance (Ref. 88171).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Marine - Neritic Marine - Oceanic Brackishwater Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies
  • supra-littoral zone
  • littoral zone
  • sublittoral zone
  • epipelagic
  • mesopelagic
  • epipelagic
  • abyssopelagic
  • hadopelagic
  • estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas
  • mangroves
  • marshes/swamps
  • rivers/streams
  • lakes/ponds
  • caves
  • exclusively in caves
Highighted items on the list are where Arctica islandica may be found.

Habitat

Substrate Benthic: endofauna (infauna); macrobenthos; Soft Bottom: sand ( fine, ); silt; mud; ooze (, organic ); Hard Bottom: rubble;
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats Other habitats: burrows;
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref.
Associations commensalism;
Associated with Malacobdella grossa.
Association remarks The commensal nemertean worm lives primarily in the mantle cavity of adult clams where it is able to share with its food without any negative effect (Ref. 88171).
Parasitism

feeding

Feeding type mainly plants/detritus (troph. 2-2.19)
Feeding type Ref.
Feeding habit variable
Feeding habit Ref.

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method original sample unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition
From individual food items 2.00 0.00 Trophic level and s.e. inferred from exclusive plant/detritus food items.
Ref.
(e.g. 9948)
(e.g. cnidaria)
Comments & Corrections
 
 
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