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Digestive rhythms in the mussel Mytilus edulis

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Abstract

Mytilus edulis L., collected from a mid-tide level on the shore, showed rhythmic changes in mantle fluid pH, crystalline style pH, style length and total protein, and in the amylase activity in the digestive gland. These changes were correlated with the changes in tidal height. Style size may be related to extracellular digestion in the stomach. Style size and amylase content of the style were not significantly correlated with each other. The changes in amylase activity in the digestive gland confirmed the existence of a tidal rhythm for intracellular digestion in M. edulis.

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Communicated by J.H.S. Blaxter, Oban

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Langton, R.W. Digestive rhythms in the mussel Mytilus edulis . Marine Biology 41, 53–58 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390581

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