An Investigation of the Effects of Deposit Feeding Invertebrates on the Structural Properties of Clay Minerals.

Abstract

Controlled laboratory experiments were conducted on the effects of deposit feeding by Heteromastus filiformis (Polychaeta) and Nuculana acuta (Pelecypoda) on the structural properties of clay minerals. No evidence was found for alteration of illite after two months exposure to artificial salt water or after ingestion by H. filiformis and N. acuta. Similar changes in crystal structure and chemical composition were found in montmorillonite ingested by H. filiformis. The results of the montmorillonite experiment contradict three previous studies which suggested clay mineral structure may be altered by digestive processes of marine animals. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1981
Accession Number
ADA103915

Entities

People

  • Michael D. Richardson
  • Valerie F. Hironaka

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Animals
  • Chemical Analysis
  • Crystal Lattices
  • Crystal Structure
  • Crystals
  • Diffraction
  • Digestive System Processes
  • Invertebrates
  • Minerals
  • New York
  • Particles
  • Physical Properties
  • Salt Water
  • Sea Water
  • Structural Properties
  • Water
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Readers

  • Aquatic Ecology
  • Geotechnical Engineering.