Storm events or winter kills can be very species specific.
We often experience, "winter kill" of an intertidal clam (introduced to our
waters from Japan), the Manila clam, _Venerupis philippinarum_ (formerly
_Tapes). The die-off occurs in the spring, often months following night
tides and exposure to freezing temperatures and wind chill. Examination of
the clams , revealed gill damage that lead to stress and mortality in the
spring as the clams became more "active". Many of the clams worked their way
to the surface and died; they are typically buried shallow in the
substrate-less than 4 in.
 
It appears that this is the only intertidal bivalve species in our waters
that suffers from 'winter kill'. It is likely a combination of habitat (they
are buried shallow, high in the intertidal zone) and physiology of the clam.
 
We also commonly suffer from a "summer mortality" of our bay, blue mussel,
_Mytilus_ spp. We appear to have several species/subspecies. This has
prevented the development of aquaculture of our local mussels and trials are
underway with Atlantic mussels.
 
I posted a separate note on winter mortalities of weathervane scallops
washed ashore by storms.
 
Rick Harbo
Nanaimo, B.C. Canada
 
 
 
 
 
At 02:14 PM 25/09/98 -0500, you wrote:
>In the "Winterized Mollusks" thread, Paul Monfils cites some interesting
>observations on mass mortality (death) of mollusks, which can often be of
>particular species. I'd like to hear from people who have witnessed such
>events, on land, sea, or freshwater. What species were involved in the mass
>mortality? What was the cause of death, if known? In what season or month
>did this occur?
>
>Andrew K. Rindsberg
>Geological Survey of Alabama
>Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
>
>