Table of Contents
Do clams breathe air?
CLAM: INTERESTING FACTS. Clams can’t breathe in an air environment. When there is a drought, however, some clams can spend months, even years, out of water. They do this by closing up and shutting down all processes except for the essential ones, and they carry these out without oxygen.
How does water oxygenate?
Oxygen enters water by direct absorption from the atmosphere, which is enhanced by turbulence (see Figure 1). Water also absorbs oxygen released by aquatic plants during photosynthesis.
Do clams need oxygen?
Hard clams, like other animals, require oxygen for aerobic respiration. They extract, or “breathe,” oxygen from the water with gills, which have large surface areas and very thin epithelia (“skins”). Oxygen is transferred from the water to the clams circulatory system.
What are the methods of aeration?
There are three methods for aeration in activated sludge process….
- Diffused Air Aeration. In diffused air aeration method compressed air is blown through the sewage and air is diffused in sewage by diffuser.
- Mechanical Aeration.
- Combine Aerator.
Can water have no oxygen?
Although water molecules contain an oxygen atom, this oxygen is not what is needed by aquatic organisms living in natural waters. A small amount of oxygen, up to about ten molecules of oxygen per million of water, is actually dissolved in water.
How does water move through a clam’s gills?
The clam has a pair of very large gills, and the surface of the gills is covered with cilia. The cilia beat in a coordinated fashion, and the movement of the cilia cause water to move into and through the clam. Food-containing water enters through the incurrent siphon and passes over the gills.
How does the nervous system of a clam work?
The nervous system of clams consists of three pairs of ganglia connected by nerve cords. Nerves connect the ganglia and nerve cords to sensory cells. Different cells are specialized for various functions. Some sense touch. These are located at the edge of the mantle.
How does a clam protect itself from the tide?
To protect themselves clams burrow down in the mud and sand using their foot. They can burrow more than 11 inches! When the tide comes in, they stick their siphons out and inhale fresh seawater to get oxygen so they can breathe. They also obtain algae, so they can eat.
What kind of shell does a clam have?
Some shellfish or mollusks only have one shell, such as snails. Soft shell clams have two shells so they are known as bivalve mollusks. The shells are held together with a hinge. Other bivalves are scallops, oysters, mussels and the hard shell clam or quahog.