Return-Path: <[log in to unmask]> Received: from biology.ucsc.edu ([128.114.141.165]) by jubilee.ns.sympatico.ca (Post.Office MTA v3.1.2 release (PO203-101c) ID# 607-45892U60000L60000S0) with ESMTP id AAA4037 for <[log in to unmask]>; Fri, 11 Dec 1998 15:38:30 -0400 Received: from localhost (lonhart@localhost) by biology.ucsc.edu (8.8.8/8.6.11) with SMTP id LAA20219 for <[log in to unmask]>; Fri, 11 Dec 1998 11:33:42 -0800 (PST) Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1998 11:33:42 -0800 (PST) From: <[log in to unmask]> To: Ross Mayhew <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: Bivalve defences (other than running away, hiding, and being difficult to open, ie!!) In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]> Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 Hi Ross, Chama in southern California are often so heavily encrusted with sponges (containing spicules) and bryozoans (with spines and avicularia) that stars walk right over them thinking it's just another chunk of the reef. It's a defense in that they avoid being detected--not in response to attack. Bivalves, as I'm sure you konw, sequester neurotoxins from their planktonic prey in fatty tissues, usually magnifying the dosage to something harmful to large predators, but this is usually done to avoid poisoning the bivlalve itself, not as some defensive scheme, although the net result might be predator avoidance after a few boughts with neurotoxin poisoning... > sounds right!! NOW, could someone come up with some interesting ways > bivalves actually defend themselves- do some have toxins? Spicules? > comensal relationships with unpalatable critters?? I would be quite > interested to know!! Probably not a commensalism--the benefit would go to the oyster, and the other species would have to receive no benefit (+0) relationship; however, since space is so often limiting, the valve probably is a benefit to the unpalatable critter since it's a place to attach (important for sessile spp.). Cheers and pass along interesting responses, Steve Steve Lonhart Department of Biology Office: (831) 459-4026 University of California FAX: (831) 459-4882 Santa Cruz, CA 95064 email: [log in to unmask] WEBSITE: http://www-biology.ucsc.edu/people/potts/lonhart/