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BIO 192
Ben Killam
Professor Timothy Sparkes
1/28/2015
Analysis of Bivalve Shell size and its relation to predation
Introduction:
Bivalves are marine mollusks with hard shells consisting of
mostly CaCO3. The bivalves shells are often bored into by their common
predator the moon snail (Aguirre et al. 6). In prior studies snails, have
demonstrated a preference for bivalves with thin shells rather than those
with thick shells (Aguirre et al. 6). However, it should be noted that bivalves
did not evolve thick shells in response to the predation; rather the thicker
shells were a random mutation that was beneficial enough to allow its
carrier to survive and reproduce. The snails preference for thin shelled
bivalves is an example of selective pressure, meaning that the population is
becoming more heavily thick shelled because the thin shelled bivalves are
being preyed upon before they can reproduce at a greater number than
those with thicker shells (Aguirre et al.1). Therefore, the snails predation
was the mechanism for natural selection and the increase in bivalve size
over time was the result.

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In lab we conducted an experiment meant to test the relationship
between the predation of bivalves and its relation to shell size. To do this we
tested our biological hypothesis there is an affect of predation preference
on shell size. Additionally, we tested our null hypothesis there is no
significant predator preference on shell size and our alternative hypothesis
the shell size is determined by predator preferences. During the
experiment I made the prediction that bivalve shell size would influence the
frequency of snail predation.
Methods:
In order to determine the relationship between predation frequency
and shell length we examined an assortment of shells and classified each of
them as one of five species. To do this we used a key containing the names
and key features of the five bivalves, such as blood arks having a having
teeth at the end of their umbos(Aguirre et al.7). The species identified were
yellow cockles, ponderous arks, blood arks, incongruous arks, and transverse
arks (Aguirre et al. 7). Once the bivalves had all been identified the blood ark
species was chosen as a focal species for the experiment. In the next phase
of the experiment, five blood arks were measured in millimeters from
anterior to posterior ends using calipers. Next we sketched the bivalves and
looked for the presence of bore holes. After that, the sheet containing the
sketches and measurements was traded with a partner so that secondary
observations and measurements could be made. Finally, the results from our

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individual examinations were combined and organized by shell size and by
the presence of a bore hole. The data was displayed in the form of three
histograms, all shells, predated shells, and not predated shells (Aguirre et
al.10). The second part of the natural selection lab consisted of examining
the graphs of pooled data on blood arks, ponderous arks, and incongruous
arks from Folly and Edisto beach from all of the classes.

Results:
Data table one contains the length of, mean of, number of, percent of total,
and minimum and maximum measurements of both predated and not
predated bivalves.
Table 1: Recorded statistics of predated and not predated bivalves.
Not predated
Mean (mm)
Minimum size (mm)
Maximum size (mm)
Number of bivalves
Percent of total bivalves (%)

32.24
14.6
54.35
114
88.4

Predated
28.95
19.8
45.25
15
11.6

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60
50
40
Frequency

30
20
10
0
1

10 11 12 13

Bin (upper limit, mm)

Figure 1: Histogram of all shells

6
5
4
Frequency

3
2
1
0
1

10 11 12 13

Bin (upper limit, mm)

Figure 2: Histogram of predated shells

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45
40
35
30
25
Frequency 20
15
10
5
0
1

9 10 11 12 13 14

Bin (upper limit, mm)

Figure 3: Histogram of non predated shells

The results show that only 11.6% of the 129 bivalves were predated. Of
those bivalves the largest was 45.25 mm and the smallest was 19.8. The non
predated bivalves which made up 88.4% of the total had a larger range of
sizes. The largest non predated bivalve was 54.35 mm and the smallest was
14.6 mm. The mean value of the non predated bivalves was found to be
32.24mm while the mean value for the predated bivalves was found to be
28.95mm. The data shows that the average non predated bivalve (32.24mm)
was larger than the average predated bivalve (14.6 mm).
Discussion:
Based on the results and their visual representations in the figures, it is
shown that the small to medium sized shells from 4 mm to 8 mm were

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predated the most. After 6mm, the predation of the bivalves went down
significantly until it ceased altogether at 9mm. Therefore, the larger bivalves
from 8mm to 11mm were preyed upon less than the medium and small sized
bivalves. Keeping that I mind, it can be inferred that a greater number of
larger shelled bivalves are surviving long enough to reproduce than smaller
shelled bivalves. The selective pressure invoked by the predation of the
snails is a mechanism for natural selection that is causing the population to
undergo directional selection pushing shell length to the larger end of the
spectrum. The snails seem to be preying on the medium and smaller sized
bivalves because the energy cost of boring through their shells does not
outweigh the benefit of consuming the bivalve as it does in the larger thicker
shelled bivalves. Unfortunately, the data collected in lab could contain a fair
amount observed variation because of the inherent difficulty in having an
entire class uniformly measure shells of varying morphologies. A possible
solution for this would be to develop a uniform method of measuring bivalve
shells to limit the variation in observed size, or to have a single person
measure the entirety of the bivalve specimens.
In the second natural selection lab the pooled data of all the classes
was displayed in multiple graphs containing the predation of ponderous arks,
blood arks, and incongruous arks as well as the location they were gathered
from. The graphs were examined for the type of selection occurring in them.
Blood arks were found to demonstrate directional selection because of their
larger shells lower number of predation in comparison to their small shells.

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The Ponderous arks were also found to demonstrate directional selection for
the same reason as the blood arks. The Incongruous arks demonstrated
disruptive selection because the number of predated shells on either side of
the medium sized shells was very similar. Alternatively, the number of
predated medium sized shells was high in comparison. In regards to the two
different beaches and their influence on the ark populations, Edisto arks
appear to be more often predated towards the center of the histogram
(disruptive selection), while the Folly arks seem to have their smaller shells
predated the most (directional selection).

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Works cited:

W. Aguirre, J. LaMontagne, C. Martineau, K.Shimada, and T. Sparkes.

Laboratory Manual General Biology II Bio 192. Chicago: DePaul
University, 2015. Print.