Mya arenaria

This species (Mye common, or Mya arenaria ) named by Linnée in 1758 is one of large the bivalves of the family of the Myidae.

Characteristics and lifestyle

This Mollusque lives in the Sédiment by filtering water by means of a siphon.
Comme many others Bivalvular S, of which the Moule S and oysters, it can “detoxicate” by storing most of heavy metals that it filtered in its shell (lead in particular). Its shell is however fragile. It is surbedded rather quickly, then salting out the poisons which it contained.

One finds it inserted in muddy sand or the mud up to 90 cm of depth. It is sheltered by a shell of Carbonate of calcium, relatively breakable (more fragile than those of other species resembling to him), from where anglophone denomination of " software-shells".

This animal can accumulate many Toxique S, which makes of it a Biointégrateur interesting for the follow-up of the chronic pollution of sediments and to evaluate the contamination of the trophic Réseau. (its shell being able, even after its death, to preserve the trace of certain former pollution).
Il was proposed to use it its “time of hiding” like Indicateur of its degree of intoxication, but of other factors can intervene

Vernacular names

In North America, one also calls it: " steamers" , " softshells ", " longnecks " however " Ipswich clams "

Surface of distribution:

This species lives in the Sédiment S sandy of the littorals exposed to the tides, of the southern parts of the the United States, until the Canada, and along some littoral European.
On also finds some with the the United Kingdom, for example in the sand banks of Llanrhidian in the west of the Wales.

Threats

Like all filter molluscs, it can be victims of the trawling of the funds, Biocide used in the Antifooling S or of the pollutants accumulated in the mud, of which Heavy metals, Engrais and Pesticide S brought by the rivers or the rains. The oil slicks and oil pollution can also affect it.

Food

This shell is frequently collected by the fishermen with foot or professionals in North America; It then is fried, cooked with water, butter or the vapor or the furnace, after discharging in clean sea water.

Risk food toxicity

The American authorities north regularly alert the consumers on the risks related to the mollusc filterer consumption.
Cette species can strongly bio-accumulate Heavy metals and various Toxine S produced by the Bactérie S or species of Plancton of which it is nourished, in particular in the Estuaire S, often eutrophized, dystrophized or collecting the Pollution areas catchment.
Elle is for this reason a source of food poisonings being able to induce digestive disorders (Diarhée S, evils of belly and Vomissement S), Urticaire S, and more exceptionally of the Paralysie S.

For example when the concentration of water in Alexandrium tamarense or Alexandrium ostenfeldii reaches 1.000 cells per liter of sea water, the flesh of the shell becomes toxic for the man, the mya would be however 5 times less toxic than the moulds, in the same environment, according to a Canadian study.

See too

Myidae

External bonds

Gallant, D., A. Poulin, & E. Tremblay (2006). Statistical evaluation and optimization of the program of monitoring of the mye common ( Mya arenaria ) to the national park of Canada Kouchibouguac. Canada parks - Reports as regards sciences of the ecosystems, 045, ix + 67p. (ISBN 0-662-71418-0, ISSN 1200-3298)

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