Short communication: Population dynamics of Donax faba (Family: Donacidae)in the coastal waters of Padukere, Karnataka (India)

Abstract

Macrobenthic organisms that live in constantly disturbed high-energy sandy substrata, have evolved specific morphological and equally important behavioural features for them to flourish (Ansell and Trevallion, 1969). Species of the tropical mollusc family Donacidae, are well known to exploit the swash and the backwash to keep within the zone of breaking waves in order to feed on the sparse nutrients held briefly in suspension by them (Ansell, 1981). These filter-feeding clams inhabit sandy beaches along the Indian coast, including the Indian Island (Rao and Dey, 1986, 2000). The members of the genus Donaxarean abundant component of the intertidal fauna in many parts of the world (Coe, 1953; Laudien et al., 2003; Herrmann et al., 2009). Growth checks can be caused by high seas, inhibition of growth at low or high temperature, attacks by predators, physical disturbances, pollution and spawning events (Lutz and Rhodes, 1980; Wilbur and Owen, 1983), and can be periodic (an effect of tides, lunar months or seasons), or irregular (due to random events such as cyclones) (Jones, 1981).