Abstract
The recent separation of Cardium glaucum Bruguière from C. edule L. and the scarcity of reports of populations containing both species has necessitated further ecological study to demonstrate differences in habitat preferences. Some mixed and unispecific populations of the cockles Cardium edule and C. glaucum, situated in fjords around the Kattegat and Baltic coasts of Denmark were studied; it was demonstrated that some degree of tidal influece was essential for the survival of C. edule, and that C. glaucum was being restricted by the exposure of the site. A study of the cockle populations of some étangs on the Mediterranean coast of France demonstrated that, despite earlier reports of its presence, C. edule was not present in that area. A brief survey of the Bassin d'Arcachon (France) showed that it contained a mixed cockle population. It was concluded that C. edule was unable to occupy localities having a tidal amplitude of less than 0.2 m, and that high temperatures also restricted occupation of semitidal habitats; similarly, the exposure of the site restricted colonisation by C. glaucum.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Baggerman, B.: Spatfall and transport of Cardium edule L. Archs néerl. Zool. 10, 315–342 (1935).
Bateson, W.: On some variations of Cardium edule apparently correlated to the conditions of life. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. (Ser. B) 180, 279–330 (1889).
Birstein, J. A.: The growth and propagation of Cardium edule of Mertvy Kultuk and Kaidak in Caspian Sea in connection with salinity. Dokl. (Proc.) Acad. Sci. U.S.S.R. 4, 195–199 (1936).
Boettger, C. R.: Ein Beitrag zur Frage des Ertragens von Brackwasser durch Molluskenpopulationen. Hydrobiologia 2, 360–379 (1950).
Boyden, C. R.: A note on the nomenclature of two European cockles. J. Linn. Soc. (Zool.) 50, 307–310 (1971a).
—: A comparative study of the reproductive cycles of the cockles Cerastoderma edule and C. glaucum. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 51, 605–622 (1971b).
Boyden, C. R. and P. J. C. Russell: The distribution and habitat range of the brackish water cockle Cardium (Cracterderma) glaucum in the British Isles. J. Anim. Ecol. (In press).
Brackman, C.: Cardium edule L. var. Lamarcki Reeve. Basteria 1, 39–43 (1936).
Bradfield, A. E.: Oxygen content of interstitial water in sandy shores. J. Anim. Ecol. 33, 97–116 (1964).
Broekhuysen, G. J. Jr.: The extremes in percentages of dissolved oxygen to which the fauna of a Zostera field in the tidal zone at Nieuwediep can be exposed. Archs néerl. Zool. 1, 339–346 (1935).
Bruguière, M.: Encyclopedie méthodique ou histoire naturelle des vers, Vol. 6. pp 221–222. Paris: Panckoucke 1789.
Buequoy, E., Ph. Dautzenberg et G. Dollfus: Les mollusques marins du Roussillon. Vol. 2. Pelecypodes, pp 251–297. Paris: Ballière 1898.
Cadée, G. C.: Molluscan biocoenosis and thanatocoenosis in the Ria de Arosa, Galicia, Spain. Zool. Verh., Leiden 95, 1–125 (1968).
Coen, J. S.: Nota sui Cardium della sezione Cerastoderma. Atti Accad. scient. veneto-trent.-istriana (Ser. terza) 8, 54–62 (1915).
Eisma, D.: Shell characters of Cardium edule L. as indicators of salinity. Neth. J. Sea Res. 2, 493–540 (1965).
Figueras, A.: Ecology and growth of Cardium edule L. in the Mino estuary, Spain. Investigación pesq. 30, 577–588 (1966).
Forbes, E. and S. Hanley: A history of British Mollusca and their shells, Vol. 2. 40 pp. London: Van Voorst 1853.
Grossu, A. V.: Variatile lui Cardium edule L. în Marea Neagră. Hydrobiologia 3, 177–191 (1961).
Hecht, F. und H. Matern: Zur Ökologie von C. edule L. Senckenbergiana 12, 361–372 (1930).
Høpner Petersen, G.: Notes on the growth and biology of the different Cardium species in the Danish brackish water areas. Meddr Danm. Fisk.-og Havunders. 2 (22), 1–31 (1958).
Kaltenbach, H.: Die Cardienfauna der beiden Brackwasserseen von El Coefia bei Bengasi. Arch. Molluskenk. 75, 132–145 (1943).
Kreger, D.: On the ecology of Cardium edule L. Archs néerl. Zool. 4, 157–200 (1940).
Kristensen, I.: De oecologie van de Kokkel (Cardium edule). Geloof Wet. 51, 54–56 (1953).
—: Differences in the density and growth in a cockle population in the Dutch Wadden Sea. Archs néerl. Zool. 12, 351–453 (1957)
Loppens, K.: La variabilité chez Cardium edule. Annls Soc. r. zool. Belg. 54, 33–67 (1923).
Mars, P.: Observations sur les variations de Cardium edule Linné. Bull. Soc. linn. Provence 16, 5–6 (1948).
—: Essai d'interprétation des formes généralément groupées sous le nom de Cardium edule Linné. Bull. Mus. Hist. nat. Marseille 11, 1–31 (1951).
Muus, B. J.: The fauna of Danish estuaries and lagoons; distribution and ecology of dominating species in the shallow reaches of the mesohaline zone. Meddr Danm. Fisk.-og Havunders. (N. Ser.) 5, 1–316 (1967).
Russell, P. J. C.: A reappraisal of the geographical distributions of the cockes Cardium edule L. and C. glaucum Bruguière. J. Conch., Lond. 27, 225–233 (1970).
Rygg, B.: Studies on Cerastoderma edule (L.) and Cerastoderma glaucumu (Poiret). Sarisia 43, 65–80 (1970).
Tebble, N.: British bivalve seashells, 212 pp. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History) 1966.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by J. H. S. Blaxter, Oban
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Russell, P.J.C. Biological studies on Cardium glaucum, based on some Baltic and Mediterranean populations. Marine Biology 16, 290–296 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00347752
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00347752