WATER FILTRATION BY THE BAY SCALLOP, PECTEN IRRADIANS, AS OBSERVED WITH THE USE OF RADIOACTIVE PLANKTON

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Abstract
The water filtration by the bay scallop was studied by following the clearing of suspensions of phytoplankton cells using radioactive measurement techniques. A period was observed during which there was a like percentage decrease with time, indicating a constant rate of removal with complete retention of the suspended cells by the gills. Changes in the rate of clearing as the observations were continued appeared to be the result of changes in the efficiency of the gills and a return to suspension of cells previously removed. Calculation of the rate of water propulsion when there was evidence of complete retention of cells by the gills showed that the bay scallop has a rather high rate of water filtration. The average rate for small scallops (38-44 mm. in length) was 3.26 I./hour. The largest scallops (64-65 mm. in length) averaged 14.72 l./hour. The maximum rate observed was 25.4 I./hour. The smaller scallops had a higher pumping rate/g. of tissue than did the larger.

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