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Radular production rates in three species of intertidal mollusc
Abstract   Peer reviewed

Radular production rates in three species of intertidal mollusc

Jeremy A Shaw, D J Macey and Lesley R Brooker
Proceedings of the 2004 World Congress of Malacology, pp.132-133
World Congress of Malacology (WCM): Molluscan megadiversity: Sea, land and freshwater, 2004 (Perth, Australia, 2004)
2004
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Abstract

Biochemistry and Cell Biology radula teeth mollusc
Seasonal variation in the rate of radular production has been investigated for the chiton Acanthopleura hirtosa using a cold-shocking technique to induce structural irregularities in the radula ribbon. Radular synthesis was found to occur at a rate of 0.36 rows.day (SD=0.02; n=61) irrespective of winter or summer temperatures, which averaged 16.5 and 24.0 degrees celcius, respectively. This suggests that radula renewal, and therefore feeding, is a continual process, enabling these animals to meet their various physiological needs throughout the year. In addition, rates of radular production in A. hirtosa were compared to a second chiton species, Plaxiphora albida and a limpet species, Patelloida alticostata, which were found to have a radular production rate of 0.36 rows.day (SD = 0.08; n = 30) and 0.48 rows.day (SD = 0.16; n = 33), respectively. It is proposed that a combination of physical and biotic factors act in concert, affecting tooth wear and hence radular production in the three species. These factors include differences in vertical zonation, animal size, cusp size and morphology, tooth composition and structure, and the way in which the radula is used during feeding. The rates determined for these three species are slow in comparison to those of other molluscs, which may be a reflection of hardness imparted to chiton and limpet teeth through the incorporation of iron biominerals.

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