Oxygen, sulphide and nutrient uptake of the mangrove mud clam Anodontia edentula (Family: Lucinidae)

Abstract

Oxygen, sulphide and nutrient (ammonia, nitrite and phosphate) uptake of Anodontia edentula was measured. Oxygen and sulphide were measured from sealed containers provided with 1 l fresh mangrove mud (sulphide source) and seawater (oxygen source) with two treatments (with and without clam) at 16 replicates each. Oxygen, sulphide and other parameters were measured at days 1 (initial), 3 and 5 (final). Nutrients were measured from containers filled with 1.5 l wastewater from a milkfish broodstock tank with two treatments (with and without clam) at eight replicates each. Ammonia, NO₂ and PO₄ were measured at days 0 (initial) 3, 6, 9 and 12 (final). Results showed significantly decreasing oxygen and sulphide concentrations in treatment with clams (ANOVA, p < 0.001). A significantly higher ammonia concentration (ANOVA, p < 0.05) was observed in treatment with clams while no significant difference was observed in nitrite and phosphate between the two treatments. A decreasing ammonia and an increasing nitrite trend was also observed in both treatments starting at day 3.