Exempel på cockle

• Many oyster and cockle shells were on its shore. 

• Thus, the direct impact of the two trematode species on their cockle hosts has cascading effects extending to the entire intertidal community.

• Secondly, the otherwise smooth mudflat surface will have greater heterogeneity, with surface-stranded cockles providing refuges and attachment substrate for other organisms.

• In concert, these interactions may cause the foot of heavily infected cockles to be literally immobilized.

• We compared the relative distribution of the two echinostome species among different locations in the foot and in the rest of the cockle.

• Results indicate that these two species are ecological equivalents, and their combined numbers determine how the cockle population is affected.

• The data are from three cockles per site; total numbers of metacercariae of both species are given in the figure.

• Several epibiotic, or fouling, organisms use cockle shells as attachment substrates and even compete for space in areas where they are abundant.

• The final hosts are oystercatchers that feed on the cockles during low tide.

• The following day it was confirmed that all cockles had burrowed and were filtering.

• Below : outline of cockle foot showing the approximate footsection boarders and metacercariae ($).

• This is not what we would expect if there were only one species infecting cockles.

• However, a small foot will by no means make burrowing easier for the cockles.

• This seemingly minor effect on cockle hosts has several major repercussions on the entire intertidal community.

• Mudflats are also used as culture beds for cockles.

• This suggests that mortality may be very high in young cockles.