Meeting Abstract

26.5  Jan. 5  Scallops respond to simulated particles in flow SPEISER, D. I.*; SWEENEY, A. M.; JOHNSEN, S; Duke University; Duke University; Duke University dis4@duke.edu

Scallops� eyes are abundant in number and positioned along the mantle at the edges of the valves. These eyes can form relatively high-resolution images, and their morphology and optics have been well-studied, but the function of scallop vision remains unknown. We tested whether scallops, which are filter feeders, use their eyes to detect suspended food particles. Specimens of the Common Bay Scallop Argopecten irradians were placed in an operating flow tank and shown videos of moving particles. Their mantle gapes were then observed at 24 second intervals over ten minute trials. We found that 25 A. irradians were open in 52% +/- 6% of observations when particles were shown, while 24 scallops viewing a blank screen were open in 29% +/- 5% of observations. The difference between these treatments was found to be significant (P<0.01; two-tailed t-test). This suggests that scallops use visual information to influence feeding behavior.