Reversed Optimality And Predictive Ecology: Burrowing Depth Forecasts Population Change In A Bivalve

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Also Included In: Veterinary
Article Date: 22 Oct 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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Burrowing bivalves of the North Atlantic intertidal, Macoma balthica, predict their own future. Assessments of their depth of living at over 2000 mudflat stations visited repeatedly over 11 successive years, demonstrated that in years after Macoma burrowed deeply in late summer, their population had grown.

A year after summers when Macoma remained close to the surface, exposing themselves to shorebird predation though achieving better grazing opportunities, their population declined.

This behaviour is predicted by theory and represents a first ecological demonstration of the 'Stalingrad effect', the increase in risk-taking by starving German soldiers during the siege of this city.

Royal Society Journal Biology Letters

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