A Strain Gauge Monitor (SGM) for Continuous Valve Gape Measurements in Bivalve Molluscs in Response to Laboratory Induced Diel-cycling Hypoxia and pHElka T Porter 1, Frederick S Porter 2
1Yale Gordon College of Arts & Sciences, University of Baltimore, 2Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA
Understanding the behavioral responses of bivalve suspension-feeders to environmental variables, such as dissolved oxygen, can explain some ecosystem processes. We have developed an inexpensive, laboratory-based, strain gauge monitor (SGM) to measure valve gape responses of oysters, Crassostrea virginica, to diel-cycling hypoxia and cyclical pH.