Dimming Giants
You may be familiar with the Giant Clam (Tridacna gigas) in the lobby of the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science. The species is well known for being the largest living bivalve mollusk, with an impressive lifespan of up to 100 years.
A recent assessment from the University of Colorado explains the vulnerability and major threats to multiple giant clam species, including climate change and over-harvesting. The lead researcher in this assessment, Ruiqi Li, is a colleague of our own Director of Collections and Curator of Mollusks, Dr. Liz Shea. Li’s assessment helped the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to update the status of the giant clam from “vulnerable” to “endangered.”
Here at DelMNS, Dr. Shea shares, “Museum collections are an essential resource for learning more about endangered and threatened species.” As we continue to observe environmental changes, it is vital to recognize new threats to species like the Giant Clam.
Giant Clam (Tridacna gigas) in the lobby of the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science.
Clam shells provide home to algae and other small organisms, which produce nutrients that help feed the clams.
