Environmental determinants of unionid clam distribution in the Middle Thames River, Ontario

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Abstract
Seven unionid clam species were collected from 240 randomly allocated 0.5-m2 quadrats in the Middle Thames River above Thamesford, Ontario. Five environmental variables were measured for each quadrat; the statistical procedure used was discriminant analysis on principal components of the data. Increased frequency of occurrence of clams (of all species) is associated with slow moving, shallow water but also with a relatively coarse substrate. Species of clams show separation along a similar water depth and velocity gradient.