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Macoma balthica

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Baltic Macoma

G5Secure Found in 11 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.792087
Element CodeIMBIVB5030
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryInvertebrate Animal
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumMollusca
ClassBivalvia
OrderVeneroida
FamilyTellinidae
GenusMacoma
Synonyms
Limecola balthica(Linnaeus, 1758)Tellina balthicaLinnaeus, 1758
Concept Reference
Turgeon, D. D., J. F. Quinn, Jr., A. E. Bogan, E. V. Coan, F. G. Hochberg, W. G. Lyons, P. M. Mikkelsen, R. J. Neves, C. F. E. Roper, G. Rosenberg, B. Roth, A. Scheltema, F. G. Thompson, M. Vecchione, and J. D. Williams. 1998. Common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the United States and Canada: Mollusks. 2nd Edition. American Fisheries Society Special Publication 26, Bethesda, Maryland. 526 pp.
Taxonomic Comments
Enzyme and electrophoretic studies (Meehan and Carlton, 1988; Meehan et al., 1989; Luttikhuizen et al., 2003; Vainola, 2003) have resulted in significant taxonomic changes in the Macoma balthica complex. True Macome balthica is now restricted to both the Pacific-Baltic-White Sea region (subspecies M. b. balthica) as well as the northeast Atlantic in Europe (subspecies M. b. rubra) while what was once considered Macoma balthica in the western Atlantic in North America (Virginia north to the Bay of Fundy) should be considered Macoma petalum, the oldest available name (Vainola, 2003). Introductions in the southeast Pacific (California) originated from the western Atlantic (northeastern U.S. coast) and are M. petalum. Introductions in Alaska have been shown to originate from the Baltic and are M. balthica (subspecies balthica) (Luttikhuizen et al., 2003).
Conservation Status
Review Date2006-03-28
Change Date2006-03-28
Edition Date2005-09-21
Edition AuthorsGotthardt, T.A. and A. Jansen
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Widespread and locally abundant. Rising sea water temperatures have resulted in lower reproductive output and smaller stocks in northern Europe; effects of climate change elsewhere unknown but of concern.
Range Extent Comments
Circumboreal. From the Beaufort Sea, Alaska, south to San Francisco Bay, California. Also occurs throughout the Bering and Okhotsk Seas to Japan. Off northern Europe, occurs in the North Sea (England, Norway and Denmark), Baltic Sea, Barents Sea, White Sea, in the waters of the Faroe Islands north to Iceland (but no records from Greenland), and as far south as Spain. On the western Atlantic coast, present from Labrador to Georgia (Bernard 1979, Coan et al. 2000, Vainola 2003).
Occurrences Comments
Locally abundant. The dominant infaunal organism of a number of tidal flats, including the Copper River Delta, Kachemak Bay, Dayville and Island Flats at the head of Port Valdez, and Upper Cook Inlet, where densities of over 4,000 individuals/m² have been recorded (Dames and Moore 1979, Naidu et al. 1991, Lees et al. 2001, Powers et al. 2002). Elsewhere, densities (individuals/m²) at Chinitna Bay were between 2,600 and 4,600 (Dames and Moore 1979), 1,000 at the West Foreland, 450 at Chickaloon Bay, 2.4 at Kalifornsky Beach in Upper Cook Inlet (Lees et al. 2001), and 182 at Three Saints Bay, Kodiak Island (Nybakken 1969).
Threat Impact Comments
Potential threats include exposure to and bioaccumulation of toxins and heavy metals released from industrial waste (Coan et al. 2000), habitat destruction as a result of intertidal dredging through commercial fishing (Collie et al. 2000), commercial and residential development (Salomon et al. 2004), and erosion as a result of road construction (Myren and Pella 1977, Naidu et al. 1992). In the North Sea, rising seawater temperatures caused by climate change are already affecting M. balthica stocks by lowering reproductive output and shifting the spawning period to an earlier time of year (Philippart et al. 2003). In some areas, predation by migrating shorebirds may be intense (Lees et al. 2001, Powers et al. 2002).
Ecology & Habitat

Description

A small marine clam (shell length to >3 cm, most <2 cm); delicate shell is oval shaped and white externally with fine concentric growth lines and a smooth margin; usually deep pink internally, sometimes blue, yellow or orange. The thin, yellowish periostracum on the shell's exterior flakes off easily. Long translucent white siphons can measure up to 10 times the length of the shell and may resemble small white worms. Like other macomas, M. balthica has scars on the insides of the valves, the two siphons are separate to the base, and the incurrent siphon lacks tentacles near the tip. Unique among macomas because the pallial sinuses are large and equal in size with no gap between the pallial sinus and the pallial line (Bernard, 1979, Foster, 1991, O'Clair and O'Clair, 1998, Field and Field, 1999).

Habitat

Intertidal zone to 40 m, usually buried shallowly (to 20 cm, but usually within 5 cm of surface) in mud or silt, generally in bays and estuaries with lowered salinity (Dames and Moore 1979, Harbo 1997, O'Clair and O'Clair 1998, Coan et al. 2000). Burrowing depth varies throughout the year, generally shallow in spring/early summer and deeper in late fall/early winter (Edelaar et al. 2002).

In Alaska, associated with fine, soft-bottom sediments of quiet bays, estuaries, and occasionally inland rivers (Bernard 1979, Field and Field 1999, ADFG 2000). In Upper Cook Inlet, thrives in muddy areas near river sources and in the lee of promontories (Lees et al. 2001). At the Copper River Delta, highest densities were recorded where tidal inundation occurred for the longest time (Powers et al. 2002).

Ecology

An important food source for coastal birds, especially during winter and migration stopover. Predators include ducks, shorebirds, and gulls. The preferred and principle prey during winter for Red Knot (Calidris canutus) and comprises the entire diet of the Pribilof Rock Sandpiper (Calidris ptilocnemis ptilocnemis) while wintering in Cook Inlet, Alaska (Reading and McGrorty 1978, Dames and Moore 1979, Zwarts and Blomert 1992, Rosier 1993, O'Clair and O'Clair 1998, Field and Field 1999, De Goeij 2001, Lees et al. 2001, Edelaar et al. 2002, Gill et al. 2002, Richman and Lovvorn 2003, Warnock et al. 2004). Siphons can be nipped off by bottom fish, crabs and shrimp, and constitute an important food for commercially important King (Paralithodes camtschaticus) and tanner crab (Chionoecetes bairdi) in Alaska (Weihs and Burrell 1978). The isopod Saduria entomon preys on both adult and newly settled juvenile clams (Lees et al. 2001).

Reproduction

Sexually mature at 8 to 10 mm; spawns late March and April (O'Clair and O'Clair 1998). Eggs and larvae are pelagic for a short period (2-5 weeks; Luttikhuizen et al. 2003). In England, most settlement of young clams occurs in April and May (O'Clair and O'Clair 1998). May live as long as 8 years with reduced growth and increased longevity at higher latitudes (e.g., Copper River Delta, Alaska; see Powers et al. 2002).
Other Nations (2)
CanadaNNR
ProvinceRankNative
ManitobaSNRYes
Northwest TerritoriesSUYes
United StatesNNA
ProvinceRankNative
AlaskaSNANo
Roadless Areas (11)
Alaska (11)
AreaForestAcres
Behm IslandsTongass National Forest4,777
ChichagofTongass National Forest555,858
Chugach-12Chugach National Forest8,116
College FiordChugach National Forest1,130,818
Fidalgo-GravinaChugach National Forest257,968
Game CreekTongass National Forest54,469
Juneau-Skagway IcefieldTongass National Forest1,187,268
Mansfield PeninsulaTongass National Forest54,991
Neka BayTongass National Forest7,142
North KruzofTongass National Forest33,146
Sitka SoundTongass National Forest13,459
References (42)
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