Corbicula an annotated bibliography 1774 2005

Studies were conducted to ascertain seasonal growth rates of Corbicula in relation to station fouling and to monitor the effects of thermal effluent on Corbicula populations. Growth rates, as determined by increases in shell height, were 9.8 and 7.9 mm for size class III and IV clams, respectively. Corbicula growth rates were not significantly different among control and thermally influenced stations. Based upon traveling screen mesh size of 10 mm, clams <10 mm could enter the plant and grow within one season to a size where they could clog condenser tubes. However, on the basis of plant operational data and in plant sampling, it was concluded that biennial physical removal was the successful control method.

Pourang, N. 1996. Heavy metal concentrations in surficial sediments and benthic macroinvertebrates from Anzali wetland, Iran. Hydrobiologia 331(1-3):53-61.

Lead, copper, zinc and manganese were measured in surficial sediments, chironomid larvae, tubificid worms and two species of bivalve molluscs (Mytilaster lineatus and Corbicula fluminalis) from the Anzali wetland, Iran. No distinct relationship was observed between heavy metal levels and percentage fine fraction in sediments. The pattern of Mn accumulation was parallel to trends of organic matter variation. There were highly significant differences between sampling sites in contents of heavy metals but no significant differences between seasons. Significant differences were found in bioaccumulation of lead and zinc in three size categories of chironomid larvae. Lead was higher in smaller M. lineatus, while the reverse was observed for copper.

Powell, J. 1994. The Lake Lure experience. 2^nd. Zebra Mussel Conference, Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1-3 June. New Jersey Sea Grant NJSG-95-328.

The author first became alerted to the zebra mussel problem by an article in "North Carolina Wildlife" by John Alderman and brought the issue to our Lake Advisory Committee for study and recommendation to the Town Council. As a result of discussions between the author, John Alderman, Gene Scarpulla of the City of Baltimore and Chuck O'Neill with New York Sea Grant. it was pointed out to John Alderman the existence of some native mussels in the lake (Anodonta cataracta and Anodonta imbecillis) and the Asiatic clam (Corbicula fluminea). Based on this information and his previous knowledge of Lake Lure, Mr. Alderman's preliminary opinion was that Lake Lure may be at risk.

Prashad, B. 1920. The gross anatomy of Corbicula fluminalis (Müller). Memoirs of the Indian Museum (Calcutta) 18:209 212.

The gross anatomy of Corbicula fluminea is described with regard to shell and soft tissues and is compared with that of Corbicula largillierti.

Prashad, B. 1921. Report on a collection of Sumatran molluscs from fresh and brackish water. Records of the Indian Museum (Calcutta) 22:461 507.

Prashad, B. 1924. Zoological results of a tour in the far east. Revision of the Japanese species of the Genus Corbicula. Memoirs of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 6:521 529.

The systematics and zoogeography of Japanese species of Corbicula are discussed with some species being figured. These are: Corbicula sandai Reinhardt (Pl. 22, figs. 1 5), Corbicula transversa von Martens, Corbicula japonica Prime (Pl. 22, figs. 6, 7), Corbicula leana Prime (pl. 22, figs. 8 11), Corbicula sadoensis Pilsbry (Pl. 22, figs. 12 14), Corbicula atrata Reinhardt (Pl. 22, figs. 15, 16), Corbicula straminea Reinhardt (Pl. 22, figs. 17, 18), and Corbicula awajiensis Pilsbry (Pl. 22, fig. 19).

Prashad, B. 1924. Zoological results of the Percy Sladen Trust expedition of Yunnan under the leadership of Professor J. W. Gregory, F.R.S. (1922). Bivalve mollusks. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal (n.s.) 19:423 428.

Prashad, B. 1928. Revision of the Asiatic species of the genus Corbicula. I. The Indian species of Corbicula. Memoirs of the Indian Museum (Calcutta) 9:12 27.

Prashad, B. 1929. Revision of the Asiatic species of Corbicula. II. The Indo Chinese species of the genus Corbicula. Memoirs of the Indian Museum (Calcutta) 9:29 48.

Prashad, B. 1929. Revision of the Asiatic species of the genus Corbicula. III. The species of the genus Corbicula from China, South eastern Russia, Tibet, Formosa, and the Philippine Islands. Memoirs of the Indian Museum (Calcutta) 9:49 68.

Prashad, B. 1930. Revision of the Asiatic species of the genus Corbicula. IV. The species of the genus Corbicula from the Sunda Islands, The Celebes and New Guinea. Memoirs of the Indian Museum (Calcutta) 9:193 203.

The systematics and zoogeography of the following species of Corbicula are discussed in Indonesia: Corbicula javanica (Mousson), Corbicula ducalis Prime, Corbicula pulchella (Mousson), Corbicula rivalis (Philippi), Corbicula gracilis Prime, Corbicula sumatrana Clessin, Corbicula lacustris von Martens, Corbicula gustaviana von Martens, Corbicula tobae von Martens, Corbicula moltkiana Prime, Corbicula pullata (Philippi), Corbicula tumida Deshayes, Corbicula bitruncata von Martens, and Corbicula celebensis von Martens.

Prashad, B. 1940. On a new species of the genus Corbicula Meg. von M:uhlfeldt from northern Perak. Bulletin of the Raffles Museum 16:119 120.

Prashad, B. and N. Annandale. 1924. B. Report on a small collection of molluscs from the Chekiang Province of China. Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London 16:27 49.

Prest, H. F., W. M. Jarman, S. A. Burns, T. Weismueller, M. Martin and J. N. Huckins. 1992. Passive water sampling via semipermeable membrane device (SPMDS) in concert with bivalves in the Sacramento/San Joaquin River delta. Chemosphere 25(12):1811-1823.

Freshwater clams (Corbicula fluminea) and the Huckins et al. (1) semi-permeable membrane sampling device (SPMD) were simultaneously deployed at three sites on the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers in 1990. Both Clams and the SPMDs were analyzed for sequestered pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC/ECD). Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and non-ortho PCBs were quantified by high resolution mass spectrometry (MS). In general, levels of organochlorine compounds were approximately 1.6 times higher in clams on a wet weight basis than in the SPMDs, and trends in accumulation were similar except where biofouling of the SPMD membranes decreased uptake rates. Comparisons between the normalized, average levels of PCDDs accumulated showed that while octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) was most prevalent in both clams and SPMDs, much higher levels of 2,3,7,8 TCDD were found in the SPMDs than in the clams: 2,3,7,8 TCDD was 32% of the profile relative to the OCDD level for the SPMDs and <1% of the clam OCDD level. PCB levels showed the clams primarily accumulated hexachlorinated PCBs while the pentachlorinated and tetrachlorinated congeners were higher in the SPMDs. Differences in profiles for homologous series among the PCBs reveal that some congeners, especially those with 2,4,5 substitution, are more likely to bioaccumulate than those with lower chlorination or adjacent unsubstituted sites. GC/MS chromatograms indicate the SPMDs also sequestered several polyaromatic hydrocarbons. GC/ECD chromatograms indicate the presence of several unidentified, early eluting compounds in the SPMDs.

Preston, H. B. 1908. Descriptions of new species of marine and freshwater shells in the collection of the Indian Museum, Calcutta. Records of the Indian Museum (Calcutta) 2:45 48.

Preston, H. B. 1909. New land and freshwater shells from west Africa. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8(4):87 91.

Preston, H. B. 1911. Descriptions of six new species of shells from Bengal and Madras. Records of the Indian Museum (Calcutta) 6:39 42.

Preston, H. B. 1911. Descriptions of six new species of shells from Bengal and Madras. Records of the Indian Museum (Calcutta) 6:87 91.

Preston, H. B. 1914. New non marine Mollusca from Peru and Argentina. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 8, 8:522 528.

Corbicula bermejoensis sp. nov. is described (p. 528) from Rio Bermejo, a tributary of the Rio Chaco, northern Argentina. Corbicula approximans sp. nov. is described (p. 528) from Rio Bermejo, a tributary of the Chaco, northern Argentina.

Preston, H. B. 1914. Mollusca from the Chilka Lake on the east coast of India. Records of the Indian Museum (Calcutta) 10:297 310.

Preston, H. B. 1915. A further report on Mollusca from Lake Chilka on the east coast of India. Records of the Indian Museum (Calcutta) 11:289 310.

Preston, H. B. 1915. The Fauna of British India including Ceylon. Taylor and Francis (London). 244 pp.

Preston, H. B. 1916. IV. Report on a collection of Mollusca from the Cochin and Ennur backwaters. Records of the Indian Museum (Calcutta) 12 (Part 1, No. 4) 27 39.

Prestwich, J. 1871. On the structure of the crag beds of Suffolk and Norfolk, with some observations on their organic remains. Part III. The Norwich Crag and Westleton beds. Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society London 27:1 493.

Prestwich, J. 1890. On the relation of the Westleton beds usw. Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society London 46:1 113.

Pretorius, S. J., A. C. Jennings, D. J. Coertze and J. A. Van Eeden. 1975. Aspects of the freshwater Mollusca of the Ponga River flood plain pans. South African Journal of Science 71(7):208 212.

A survey of the freshwater mollusc of the Pongola River flood plain pans was made during 1971. The identity and distribution of the molluscs in the various pans are given (including Corbicula africana Krauss). A snail density and snail biomass comparison is made between a deep pan with abundant and a shallow pan with sparse vegetation. The mollusc fauna differed very little in the two pan types although different species predominate numerically in each and, likewise, different species accounted for the greater percentage of biomass. Two intermediate hosts of human schistosomiasis, Bulinus (Physopsis) africanus and Biomphalaria pfeifferi, seems to be among the most successful species in the pans. The future irrigation scheme on the Makantini flats could be a very dangerous schistosomiasis area.

Pretorius, S. J., K. N. DeKock, P. H. Joubert, P. A. J. Ryke and J. A. Van Eeden. 1980. Fresh water mollusks in the Oliphant River basin, South Africa l. The basin up the river from the Marble Hall area. Reeks B. Natuurwetenschappelijk 100:1 50.

Prezant, R. S. and K. Chalermwat. 1983. Investigations of the digestive gland of the bivalve Corbicula. American Zoologist 23(4):905. [Abstract]

Two experimental populations of Corbicula from Tallahala Creek (Mississippi) were maintained in the laboratory for a period of six weeks. One was kept in a mixed culture of algae, protozoa, and bacteria; the other in distilled water. Bivalve pumping activity was most intense at night. Both populations produced large amounts of pseudofeces. Animals were sampled weekly from each experimental regime. Digestive gland and style systems are typically eulamellibranch. "Fed" animals all showed particulate matter in some portions of the gut. Digestive glands in the "fed" animals were regularly dominated by style dissolution and extracellular digestion phases of the digestive tubules; the nonfed specimens showed more random stages of digestion. Changes in digestive gland structure and potential digestive rhythms during 24 hr periods are presently being studied.

Prezant, R. S. and K. Chalermwat. 1983. Environmentally induced changes in shell microstructure of the Asiatic bivalve Corbicula fluminea. American Zoologist 23(4):914. [Abstract]

Trophic and temperature conditions may act synergystically to alter "normal" internal shell microstructure of Corbicula fluminea. Environmental circumstances that negatively influence the overall well being of the bivalve, produce shells with white internal pigmentation and crossed acicular microstructures. Healthy, growing clams maintained under satisfactory thermal and trophic conditions, produce shells with purple internal highlights and typical crossed lamellar microstructures. It is possible that during less than ideal conditions, the bivalve deposits the less ordered crossed acicular microstructural units at an energetically less "expensive" price. Shells found along shorelines are typically white internally. This may not be the sole result of solar bleaching, as previously thought, but may be reflecting the change in shell production induced within unhealthy or dying animals.

Prezant, R. S. and K. Chalermwat. 1984. Flotation of the bivalve Corbicula fluminea as a means of dispersal. Science 225:1491 1493.

Small specimens of Corbicula cf. fluminea (Müller) secrete long mucus threads through their exhalant siphons that act as draglines to buoy the animal into a water column. These mucus strands, secreted in response to water current stimuli, are produced by dense accumulations of ctenidial mucocytes and may help in the downstream or interstream dispersal of this rapidly spreading exotic clam.

Prezant, R. S. and K. Chalermwat. 1984. Induction of color forms in Corbicula. American Malacological Bulletin 2:87. [Abstract]

"White" forms of Corbicula fluminea from Tallahala Creek, Mississippi, were maintained in the laboratory under four different environmental regimes. Specimens were kept for three months in aquaria at either 23^oC or 31^oC with or without the introduction of a mixed algal/protozoan supplement. Clams maintained at 31^oC with a high organic content in surrounding waters produced internal shells with a pure white coloration. Microstructurally these white internal shells were composed of crossed acicular structure. All other regimes tested produced clams with purple highlighted internal shell colorations and "normal" crossed lamellar structures.

Lethargic, unhealthy or dying cams all showed a glossy white color and circular microstructure. Empty valves collected from creek banks also show a crossed acicular microstructure but are dull white in internal coloration. Active, healthy clams maintain a purple highlighted internal shell color and typical corbiculacean internal shell microstructure. These results are of importance since recent reports of a purple and white morph are thought to have taxonomic value. It is unlikely that color or other morphometric features will prove to be of any systematic value in the determination of North American species of Corbicula. Many of the reported morphometric distinctions between or among populations of Corbicula in North America may be reflections of microhabitats.

Prezant, R. S. and A. Tan Tiu. 1985. Comparative microstructure of North American Corbicula (Bivalvia: Sphaeriacea). The Veliger 27(3):312 319.

Comparative microstructural analyses of the shells of the North American "purple" and "white" forms of Corbicula reveal no significant differences. Shells of both forms are composed of an outer crossed lamellar and an inner complex crossed lamellar microstructure. Abbuctor myostracum in Corbicula is reported for the first time. The wide variation in internal shell coloration is not reflected in shell microstructure. Internal growth bands, of possible daily origin, have been found within the crossed lamellar region of the valves.

Prezant, R. S. and A. Tan Tiu. 1986. Unique shell microstructure of Corbicula fluminea. American Malacological Bulletin 4(1): 116 117.

The internal shell edge (beneath the periostracal infolding) of the Asiatic bivalve Corbicula c.f. fluminea Müller frequently shows a unique spiral form of crossed lamellar microstructure. Most population examined from Mississippi show conical blocks of spirally arranged lathes that taper towards the shell's exterior. These spirally arranged blocks are usually associated with high concentrations of conchiolin. The orientation of the spiral cones suggests that they can inhibit chipping along the shell edge by certain predators. Aside from function, this is the first report of spirally oriented crossed lamellar microstructures in molluscs. At this point, no similar microstructure has been found in other corbiculid bivalves (including Polymesoda caroliniana and the "purple" form of North American Corbicula).

Price, R. E. and L. A. Knight, Jr. 1978. Mercury, cadmium, lead and arsenic in sediments, plankton and clams from Lake Washington and Sardis Reservoir, Mississippi, October 1975   May 1976. Pesticides Monitoring Journal 11(4):182 189.

The smaller clams (including Corbicula manilensis) contained higher levels of mercury than did larger species. Since smaller organisms have a higher surface to volume ratio, they would be expected to have greater uptake. Cadmium appeared to be concentrated in approximately the same amounts regardless of species. Clams from Lake Washington contained higher levels of lead than did those (including C. manilensis) from Lake Sardis. These levels may be due to the richer trophic condition and the age of Lake Washington. Arsenic levels were consistently low in all species, reinforcing the theory of little or no arsenic accumulation by Mollusca.

Prime, T. 1860. Descriptions of new species of Cyrena and Corbicula in the cabinet of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 12:80.

Prime, T. 1860. Synonymy of the Cyclades, a family of acephalous Mollusca. Part I. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 12:267 286.

Prime, T. 1860. Descriptions of new shells from the collection of Hugh Cuming, esq. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1860:319 322.

Prime, T. 1861. Descriptions of new species of Cyrena, Corbicula and Sphaerium. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 13:125 128.

Prime, T. 1861. Note sur quelques espece peu connue des genres Batissa, Cyrena, Corbicula et Sphaerium. Journal de Conchyliologie 9:38 43.

Prime, T. 1861. Diagnoses d'especes nouvelles. Journal de Conchyliologie 9:354 356.

Prime, T. 1862. Description of two new shells. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History 8:273 274.

Prime T. 1862. Description d'especes nouvelles des genres Glauconome, Cyrena, Batissa et Corbicula. Journal de Conchyliologie 10:383 390.

Prime, T. 1862. Descriptions of two new species of Mollusca of the genus Corbicula. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York 7:480 481.

Prime, T. 1863. Catalogue of the Species of Corbiculadae (sic) Contained in the Collection of Temple Prime. Robert Craighead Printer (New York). 18 pp.

American species of Corbicula listed are: Corbicula limosa Maton (South America), Corbicula cuneata Deshayes (Orinoco River), Corbicula convexa Deshayes (Mazatlan), Corbicula rotunda Deshayes (Surinam River), and Corbicula paranacensis Deshayes (Parana River).

Asiatic species of Corbicula listed are: Corbicula fluminalis (Müller) (China), Corbicula largillierti Deshayes (Yang tse Kiang River, China), Corbicula woodiana Deshayes (China), Corbicula nitens Deshayes (Yang tse Kiang River, China), Corbicula laeviuscula Prime (Cochin China), Corbicula erosa Prime (Cambodia), Corbicula lydigiana Prime (Siam), Corbicula larnaudieri Prime (Siam), Corbicula crassula Prime (Tigris River), Corbicula rhomboidea Prime (Malacca), Corbicula brunea Prime (Scamander River), Corbicula violacea Prime (India), Corbicula striatella Deshayes (Pondicherry, India). Corbicula trigona Deshayes (Pondicherry, India), Corbicula agrensis Prime (Agra, India), Corbicula occidens Benson (Bengal), Corbicula bengalensis Deshayes (Bengal), Corbicula parvula Prime (India), and Corbicula subradiata Prime (Agra, India).

Insular species listed include: Corbicula pulchella Deshayes (Tykoya, Java), Corbicula ducalis Prime (Java), Corbicula gracilis Prime (Java), Corbicula rivalis Prime (Java), Corbicula manilensis Philippi (Java, Manila), Corbicula tumida Deshayes (Bengal), Corbicula cumingii Deshayes (Borneo), Corbicula venustula Prime (Philippines), Corbicula notata Prime (Philippines), Corbicula minor Prime (Australia), Corbicula australis Deshayes (Australia), Corbicula prolongata Prime (eastern Australia), and Corbicula angasi Prime (Murray River, South Australia).

African species of Corbicula listed include: Corbicula cor Deshayes (The Nile), Corbicula inaequilateralis Prime (Africa), Corbicula pusilla Deshayes (The Nile), Corbicula radiata Deshayes (The Nile), and Corbicula africana Deshayes (Africa).

Species of Corbicula listed without known habitat or locality are: Corbicula pexata Prime, Corbicula squalidae Deshayes, Corbicula mediocris Prime, Corbicula solidula Prime, and Corbicula triangularis Deshayes.

Prime, T. 1864. Notes on the species of the family Corbiculidae, with figures. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York 8:57 92.

Corbicula agrensis Prime is figured (fig. 24) from Agra, India. Corbicula blandiana sp. nov. is described (p. 71) and figured (fig. 18) from Montes Laos, Cambodia. Corbicula brunea is discussed and figured (fig. 13) from the Scamander River, Tasmania. Corbicula chemnitziana sp. nov. is described (p. 60) and figured (fig. 5) from China. Corbicula crosseana sp. nov. is described (p. 72) and figured (fig. 10) from the Philippine Islands. Corbicula difficilis sp. nov. is described (p. 62) and figured (fig. 7) from Africa Septentrionalis. Corbicula inaequilateralis is discussed and figured (fig. 30) from Africa. Corbicula japonica sp. nov. is described (p. 68) and figured (fig. 15) from Japan. Corbicula kirkii sp. nov. is described (p. 66) and figured (fig. 12) from Mozambique, Central Africa. Corbicula lamarckiana sp. nov. is described (p. 66) and figured (fig. 16) from Montes Laos, Cambodia. Corbicula leana sp. nov. is described (p. 68) and figured (fig. 14) from Japan. Corbicula leviuscula sp. nov. is described (p. 64) and figured (fig. 9) from Cochin China (Vietnam). Corbicula linneana sp. nov. is described (p. 70) and figured (fig. 17) from Laos Mountains, Cambodia. Corbicula malaccensis Deshayes is discussed and figured (fig. 10) from Malacca. Corbicula minor Prime is discussed and figured (fig. 29) from Australia. Corbicula mulleriana sp. nov. is described (p. 59) and figured (fig. 3) from the Fuh chan River, China. Corbicula parvula Prime is discussed and figured (fig. 25) from India. Corbicula pexata sp. nov. is described (p. 57) and figured (fig. 1) from the Fuchan River, China. Cyrena proxima sp. nov. is described (p. 85) and figured (fig. 34) from Siam. Corbicula purpurea sp. nov. is described (p. 77) and figured (fig. 26) from Antioch, Syria. Corbicula rhomboidea Prime is discussed and figured (fig. 11) from Malacca. Corbicula sayana sp. nov. is described (p. 71) and figured (fig. 19) from the Philippine Islands. Corbicula solidula Prime is discussed and figured (fig. 31). Corbicula striatella Deshayes is discussed and figured (fig. 22) from Pondicherry, India. Corbicula sulcatina Deshayes is discussed and figured (fig. 28) from Canton, China. Corbicula venustula sp. nov. is described (p. 73) and figured (fig. 21) from Manila, Philippine Islands.

Other species of Corbicula discussed include Corbicula primeana Morelet and Corbicula lutea Morelet.

Prime, T. 1864. Description d'une nouvelle espece de Corbicula. Journal de Conchyliologie 12:151 152.

Corbicula angasi sp. nov. is described (p. 151) and figured (Pl. 7, fig. 6) from the Murray River, South Australia.

Prime, T. 1865. Monograph of American Corbiculidae (Recent and fossil). Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections 7, (No. 145), Article 5. xi + 80 pp.

Prime, T. 1866. Notes on the species of the family Corbiculidae, with figures. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York 8:213 237.

Prime, T. 1867. Notes on the species of the family Corbiculidae, with figures. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York 8:414 418.

Prime, T. 1867. Notes on the classification of the Corbiculidae, etc. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York 8:418 427.

Prime T. 1869. Catalogue and synonymy of the genera, species and varieties of recent Mollusca, described prior to January lst, 1867, with dates of publication, references to plates, and localities. Part 3. Corbiculadae (sic). American Journal of Conchology 5:127 187.

Prime, T. 1870. Notes on species of the family Corbiculidae, with figures. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York 9:298 301.

Prime, T. 1872. Notes on specimens of Corbiculadae (sic) in the cabinet of the Jardin des Plantes at Paris, and on the authorship of the Encyclop'edie M'ethodique. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York 10:188 190.

Prime, T. 1878. Description of new species of Corbicula, with notes on other species of the Corbiculidae family. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 5:43 47.

Prime, T. 1878. Notes on the anatomy of Corbiculidae (Mollusca), and a translation from the Danish of an article on the anatomy of Cyclas (Sphaerium) by Jacobsen. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 5:47 54.

Prime, T. 1895. Catalogue of the Species of Corbiculadae (sic) in the Collection of Temple Prime, now Forming Part of the Collection of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge, Massachusetts. Private Printing (New York). 62 pp.

Corbicula manchurica `A. Adams' is listed as a nomen nova (p. 21) and is listed as from Japan.

Prokopovich, N. P. 1963. Siltation in the Delta   Mendota Canal, San Joaquin Valley, California. Geological Society of America, Corrilleran Section, 59th Annual Meeting. pp. 8 10.

Prokopovich, N. P. 1964. Organic Life, Particularly Asiatic Clams, in the Delta Mendota Canal, Central Valley Project, California. Memorandum to the Geology Files, U. S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Sacramento).

Soft bottom benthos is characterized by the extreme abundance of Corbicula fluminea. The species was introduced in the Delta area from Asia. One to two years after the beginning of pumping at the Tracy Pumping Plant, C. fluminea caused serious operational troubles at the pumping plant.

Prokopovich, N. P. 1964/1965 Dewatering, Delta Mendota Canal   Central Valley Project, California. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Sacramento). 80 pp.

Typical bars of clam bearing (Corbicula fluminea) sediments on the canal invert which were noted during past dewaterings were abundant also during the 1964 1965 dewatering. Most of the bars occur at canal turns. Maximum length of the bars was 2,400 ft and maximum width was 48 ft. Average maximum thickness of bars was 1.5 ft. Bars at the intakes into three waterways were up to 12 ft thick and contained only a few C. fluminea. Total amount of wet sediments on the invert was about 22,500 cubic yards.

Prokopovich, N. P. 1966. Ecological sampler for soft sediments. Ecology 47:856 858.

The sampler consists of an open, rectangular box with a moveable reinforced plastic bottom. It is lowered and advanced into the sediments in a opened condition by pushing with supporting rods or by its own weight if lowered on a cable. The plastic bottom with a sharp cutting edge is then released to undercut and hold the uppermost 3 to 6 in. of sediments inside the sampler for retrieval. The device was successfully tested in the fall of 1965 and proved to be efficient and easy to operate. Corbicula fluminea was among the benthic invertebrates sampled with this device in the Delta   Mendota Canal, California.

Prokopovich, N. P. 1968. Organic Life in the Delta   Mendota Canal, Central Valley Project, Progress Report. Bureau of Reclamation (Sacramento, California). 126 pp.

Enormous biologic productivity and associated siltation in the 117 mile long, 100 ft wide, mostly concrete lined Delta Mendota Canal in the northwest San Joaquin Valley caused significant operation problems and capacity losses. Data collected during recent dewaterings of the canal revealed an unusual and characteristic biota.

Corbicula fluminea occurred along the entire canal, mostly in the uppermost, aerobic layer of clam bearing sediments on the canal invert. The number of live clams (frequently over 1,000 clams/square foot) and the biomass (up to 144 tons/mile) tend to decrease downstream.

The prime source of canal nutrients has been abundant plankton and suspended "peaty" particles which support a large population of filter feeders. High biologic productivity of the canal has been caused by a sustained conveyance of eutrophic deltaic waters. However, the few deltaic species that were able to survive the artificial dynamic environment proliferated in unbelievable amounts. Pure mechanical or chemical control of canal biota is unfeasible and biologic control appears to have the greatest potential.

Prokopovich, N. P. 1969. Deposition of clastic sediments by clams. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 39(3):891 901.

The role of clams and other "filter feeders" in sedimentation probably far exceeds the generally recognized accumulation of their skeletal remnants. In the course of their feeding, these organisms constantly remove suspended inorganic and organic particles from water, combine them with organic binder, and deposit them as excreta. The "sticky" excreta (and shells) trap sand and other particles and contribute to sedimentation.

The amount of clastic sediments deposited in this manner is significant, for example, in the 113 mile long Delta Mendota Canal in the eastern San Joaquin Valley, California. The sediments consist of 20 35% "fines" which were probably precipitated as excreta, 35 50% sand, and 30% clam shells. Highly eutrophic, turbid deltaic water which is pumped into the canal supports an abundant, varied biota. Corbicula fluminea are particularly numerous. The average number of clams per square foot of sediments is in the order of 1000. Laboratory pumping rate of a one year old C. fluminea appears to be about 20 cc/hr.

There is general decline of clam infestation in the downstream direction, away from the Delta: In 1965 1966, biomasses of Corbicula fluminea declined from about 140 (pool 1) to 2.5 (pool 18) tons per linear mile. Average sedimentation rates decline from about 292 cubic yards/mile/year in pools 1 through 5, to 9 cubic yards/mile/year in pools 15 through 19. Apparently smaller pumping deposition of suspended particles by clams in downstream reaches results in correspondingly lower sedimentation rates.

Prokopovich, N. P. 1970. Organic life in the Delta   Mendota Canal, California. Bioresources of shallow water environments. IN: Hydrobiology, W. G. Weist, Jr. and J. E. Greeson, Eds. American Water Resources Association (Urbana, Illinois), 8:191 203.

The biology, ecology, and distribution of Corbicula fluminea in the Delta Mendota Canal, California, is discussed.

Prokopovich, N. P. 1975. Delta Mendota Canal Central Valley Project, California, 1974 1975 Dewatering Progress Report. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Division of Design and Construction, Geology Branch (Sacramento).

The general patterns of sedimentation during the 1974 1975 dewatering were similar to patterns observed during the previous dewaterings. The main type of sediments were clam bearing deposits on the invert. They consist of shells of dead Corbicula fluminea and some coarse (construction?) debris imbedded in predominantly fine grained inorganic sand, and silty clayey fines. The average amount by weight of C. fluminea in individual reaches ranged from 25 50% and is higher than during previous dewaterings. The average amounts of sand varied from 20 50% and the average amounts of fines (clay silt particles) varied from 20 30%. Bars of such sediments usually occurred at and downstream of canal turns. Distribution and configuration of bars and their microrelief indicates the existence of some movements of sediments. Amounts of sediments in individual pools are summarized.

All sediments were dark colored and anaerobic below a depth of 3   in. textural composition of sediments was rather consistent and showed no correlation with distances from the intake.

Another major type of sediments occurred in the wasteways inlets and in the O'Neill Intake Channel. These sediments were essentially inorganic, micaceous, and fine grained. Rather large Corbicula fluminea were present mostly at the surface and were more numerous than during previous dewaterings. More or less similar sediments, but without a notable abundance of C. fluminea, were encountered in the Mendota Pool.

Amphipoda mud coating was present only in the upstream portion of Pool 1. The coating showed definite signs of denudation, was usually up to 1/4 in thick, and contained numerous Corophium, small Corbicula fluminea and other organisms.

Annual rates of sedimentation in the canal show a general rhythmic variation in the downstream direction with two maximums    in Pools 4 and 13. Somewhat similar patterns were noted also for biomasses of live Corbicula fluminea. The biomasses calculated for a linear mile of the canal range from 2.5 to 94.3 metric tons/mile.

Evaluation of data on sedimentation in the canal versus sedimentation in the O'Neill Intake Channel and Mendota Pool indicate that a large amount of suspended particles are constantly moved through the Delta Mendota Canal. Only a fraction of these particles became trapped in the form of clam bearing sediments. The trapping seems to be related to feeding of Corbicula fluminea, which occur in enormously large amounts in the canal. Hence, the control of C. fluminea infestation could conceivably act as an effective control of the canal siltation.

Prokopovich, N. P. 1986. Orientation of clamshells as a velocity indicator in a canal. Bulletin of the Association of Engineering Geologists 23(1):61-76.

Orientation of isolated shells of Corbicula fluminea on the surface of clam-bearing sediments in the Delta-Mendota Canal, California, indicates that water velocities within the ' boundary zone ' at the surface of the sediments are lower on the inside radius of canal bends as compared with water velocities on the outside radius of the bends or on tangents. In both cases, however, velocities are strong enough to overturn a notable percentage of half shells on a soft substrate into a ' stable ' (concave downward) position. Hence, the study indicates the existence of the near-bottom currents capable of moving particles as large as clam shells. Most of canal bottom sediments are composed of much smaller particles. Deposition of such sediments is therefore not a simple mechanical process, but involves filter feeding of Corbicula.

Prokopovich, N. P. and D. J. Hebert. 1964. Sedimentation in the Delta Mendota Canal Central Valley Project, California. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Sacramento). 29 pp.

Prokopovich, N. P. and D. J. Hebert. 1965. Sedimentation in the Delta Mendota Canal. Journal of the American Water Works Association 57:357 382.

Prokopovich, N. P. and C. K. Nishi. 1967. Methodology of mechanical analysis of subaqueous sediments. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 37:96 101.

Different methods of mechanical analysis of subaqueous organic mineral sediments were evaluated using samples from the Delta Mendota Canal, California. These samples contained peaty debris and numerous Corbicula.

The use of oven dry sediments does not correctly represent their original composition because of mechanical breakage during drying and alteration of colloidal particles. Better results were obtained by using wet sediments, without previous drying. Initial dry weighlings of such samples were obtained by totaling dry weights of fractions.

Water is an essential constituent of many particles, for example, peat. In organic mineral mixtures, oven dry weight of such particles may not correctly reflect their relative abundance. Representation of composition of such sediments in percents by weight at their field capacity moisture content using material separated without previous drying may be a useful approach.

Another promising technique, for sediments which are composed of constituents with different specific gravities or contain closed clam shells is the representation of their composition in percents by volume.

Puentes, J. G. 1975. Concentration of DDT and its metabolites in filter feeding species and the sediments in the Mexicali valley and in the upper Gulf of California. California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations Reports 28:73 80. [Spanish]