Overview
Brief Summary
Comprehensive Description
Distribution
Physical Description
Size
Identification Resources
Symbiosis
Parasitism
Commensalism
Mutualism
Life History & Behaviour
Behaviour
Natural History
Human Exploitation
Threats
Anthropogenic Factors
Research Project
Conservation
Trends & Status
References & More Information
Bibliographies |
Commensalistic Relationship
The Tridacna maxima is playing a micro-ecological role by being beneficial for some organisms, as Gomez documented in his study (2002). Indeed, some invertebrates larvae are using clams as a shelter or even sometimes as nurseries. Generally, they use the mantle cavity to hide from predators but they can also hide between the mantle and the shell or under the mantle.
When using as nurseries, the exact barrier between commensalism and mutualism is hard to determine in the extent that the faeces of the larvae may be used by the clam.
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