What bivalves are present in the seagrasses of SAB?
Bivalves are organisms with a soft body that is covered by two shells. The term specifically refers to a class of mollusks, which have calcareous shells consisting of right and left valves joined dorsally by an elastic ligament. When closed, the outer shell of the bivalve protects it from adverse conditions, such as exposure to low tide, brackish water, pollution, and predatory attack. Bivalves are filter feeders, which means they are constantly circulating seawater in and out of their bodies, from which they strain out microscopic food. Some bivalves can move around a little, but most live buried in the sand or burrowed into rock. Walking along Floridas beaches, particularly along the Gulf Coast, you will see the shells of the bivalves that have washed on shore. Although there are thousands of different types of bivalves, the most common ones to St. Andrew Bay are clams, oysters, scallops, and mussels. Locals have also spotted other bivalves such as cockles, bittersweets, lucines, and
