Resistance to desiccation and oxygen debt in wedge clams

The wedge dams, Donax cimeatus Linnaeus and Donax faba Cimelin acclimated to about 30° C. and exposed to air, indicated that at room temperature (average 30° C) Donax faba have a longer survival time (94 hours) than D. cmeatus (69 hours) as suggested by their 50% survival time. Survival of D. cmeatus exposed to air was studied at two lower temperatures (17 and 12° C) as well. While the survival of D. cmeatus at 17° C does not appear to be markedly different from that at room temperature, at 12° C the 50% survival time of D. cuneatus was considerably reduced (29 hours)