Can Clams Clean Up Our Coral?

              

                                            Photo credits:

                      (L) Lucinid Clams - Laura L. Govers
       (R) Typical Seagrass Meadow - Marjolijn J.A. Christianen

Well, according to the Biologists at the University of Florida, yes!

These little cleaner/sweepers are doing a great job on Florida's,

correction, America's only Coral Reef.

This vital Ecosystem just off our shoreline, has been, like all Ecosystems,

used and abused, so any help that it can get is great.

Enter tiny Clams to the rescue.

The seagrass beds just offshore, absorb much of the bacteria/toxins from

the Ocean and would die a slow, painful death from them, if it were not

for these tiny toxin devouring Clams.

The actual study is here:

A Three-Stage Symbiosis Forms The Foundation Of Seagrass Ecosystems

An interesting Thesis on the process is here:

Interactions Between Lucinid Clams And Seagrass

Another look at the actual process:

Symbiotic Bacteria In Lucinid

So, the next time you run across one of these little Clams, please say thank you!

The seagrass keeps the Ocean clean, the clams keep the seagrass clean.

It is life in perfect harmony and balance.

Little Clams Play Big Part In Keeping Seagrass Ecosystem Healthy