Shell microstructure and growth of the bivalve mollusk Acrosterigma attenuatum (G. B. Sowerby II, 1841) off the coast of Sri Lanka
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33910/2686-9519-2026-18-2-535-545Keywords:
marine bivalves, growth rate, life expectancy, Sri Lanka, temperature dipole of the Indian OceanAbstract
The suspension-feeding bivalve mollusk Acrosterigma attenuatum (G.B. Sowerby II, 1841) is widely distributed across the tropical Indian Ocean and the western Pacific, ranging from South Africa and the Red Sea to islands south of Japan, northern Australia, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu. This study aims to examine the growth rates of A. attenuatum from a population in Hambantota Bay, Sri Lanka, and their correlation with environmental conditions. The specimens analyzed were collected from beach restoration sand dredged in 2014, comprising 36 shells. By measuring the external growth lines on the shells—dark rings corresponding to winter growth cessation—annual increments were determined. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a complex calcite internal structure of the shells with three distinct layers and average incremental growth measured at 0,042 mm. Using the L. Bertalanffi group growth model, the theoretical maximum shell height of 64,2 mm and a growth constant of 0,226 were estimated, indicating moderate growth rates characteristic of low-boreal rather than tropical habitats. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between growth rates and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) conditions, particularly for the month of July, highlighting the influence of environmental factors such as sea-level fluctuations and chlorophyll concentrations on nutrient availability for suspension feeding organisms. This research contributes to understanding of the growth dynamics of A. attenuatum and underscores the importance of hydrometeorological factors in the life of marine bivalves.
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