Asian Overbite Clam by Natalie Cao

WANTED

Description

- The shell is rounded to slightly triangular.

- The exterior is usually brown in color but can vary to a yellowish-gold.

- The interior of the shell, is usually white to light purple.

- The average adult of the clam grows no more than 1.5 inches.

- Has no effect on humans but can throw off and effect the food webs of the freshwater environment.

Competition

Distribution

Since being discovered in the United States in 1938, the Asian clam has now spread to 40

U.S. states.

Asian clams are competing with native mussels and the native mussels are now threatened and in danger of becoming extinct due to the invasion of

Asian Clams.

What is an Asian Overbite Clam?

An Asian Overbite clam is a species apart of freshwater clams that had a lightly tinted shell and is usually 50mm in size or bigger.

How does the Asian Clam disperse?

People say that the Asian clam was brought over since it was mostly seen as a food source.

Following that, Asian clams disperse due to human transportation and is spread through water currents.

Why is it a threat?

It's because the Asian clam can reproduce a number of 70,000 eggs a year. Because they can reproduce that much they compete with other native species for food and space, and they can cause major clogs in power plants, water treatment systems and pipes.

Asian Clam Species

Asian Overbite Clam

The Asian clam prefers a fresh water lake or stream that has a a sandy or gravel substrate, they are also located underneath large boulders and in soft silts of deep water lakes. Asian Clams prefer to colonize in warmer areas near the shore, and to avoid the low oxygen levels and cooler conditions associated with the deeper layer of the water. The clam thrives better in fast flowing waters because the currents supply a constant source of food that the clam consumes. Their pH level should be around a 6.5 for the population to be relatively successful. The water temperature for the Asian Clam should range around 61 degrees Fahrenheit (16 degrees Celsius) or higher and shouldn't be lower than 36 degrees Fahrenheit. The percentage of the salinity or solutes is 5%. The percentage of dissolved oxygen and nitrates are 6%. With all those factors it should make the Asian clam environment survive.

Where is it native to?

About the Asian Clam

The Asian Clam is native to the fresh waters of eastern and southern Asia. It was introduced to the West Coast of North America around 1930, initially assumed to have been imported as a food source for the immigrating Chinese population. It was first discovered in the United States in 1938, and it had found its way into most of the Mississippi River Basin by the 1970s.

The Asian Clam is originally and scientifically named Corbicula fluminea (Muller) , the most common name it's called by is Asiatic Clam, Asian Clam , or Corbicula. The Asian clam is found throughout Asia, North and South America, Europe and parts of Africa.

Citations

Ways its population can be controlled?

- The spread of Asian clams can be prevented by draining all of the water from boats, live wells and bait wells.

Thoroughly inspect your boat’s hull and trailer for any Asiatic clam and weeds.

- Never take fish or plants from one lake and put them in another.

- Flush engines, dispose of bait, bilge water, bait bucket water on dry land away from shore.

-Thoroughly check your boat’s hull and trailer for any Asian clams and weeds.

http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/partnerships/tahoescience/documents/ChandraAsianClamProposal.pdf

http://www.nyis.info/user_uploads/files/Corbicula%20IN%20DNR%20factsheet.pdf

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Corbicula_fluminea/

http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dcr/watersupply/lakepond/factsheet/asian-clam.pdf

http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/Home/Topics/InvasiveSpecies/Details.aspx?PostID=659

Why is it wanted?

The Asian clam is wanted because they're kinda of a nuisance species. They're always being found clogging boat engines and preventing water from boats. Since plankton is a main source of food for the clams they're consuming most of the plankton from the waters which makes it harder for other native species to compete for the plankton.