BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Spisula solida
All Taxonomy Biology Distribution Reproduction

Researched by	Lizzie Tyler	Data supplied by	University of Sheffield
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Recorded at scattered locations around the coasts of Britain and Ireland.
Global distribution	Spisula solida is distributed from subarctic Iceland and Norway as far south as Portugal and Morocco but is not found in the Mediterranean.
Biogeographic range	Not researched	Depth range
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information	Kristensen (1996) reported that Spisula solida showed a preference for grain sizes that ranged between 2-3 mm. The population of Spisula solida in Waterford Harbour, (Ireland) conformed to the grain size preference above. Spisula solida can be found at depths of 50 m (Schlieper et al., 1967). But in the North Sea, Spisula solida is restricted to depths of about 10-15 m (Theede et al., 1969). Whereas, in Portuguese waters, Spisula solida is more common in greater abundances at depths between 5-13 metres (Gaspar et al., 1999).

Substratum preferences	Mixed Pebbles Gravel / shingle Fine clean sand	Physiographic preferences	Open coast Offshore seabed Strait / sound
Biological zone	Lower Eulittoral Sublittoral Fringe Upper Infralittoral Lower Infralittoral	Wave exposure	Very Exposed Exposed Moderately Exposed Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Strong (3-6 kn) Moderately Strong (1-3 kn) Weak (<1 kn)	Salinity	Full (30-40 psu)
Habitat Preferences Additional Information
Distribution References	Tebble, 1976, Gibson et al., 2001, NBN, 2002, Picton & Costello, 1998, JNCC, 1999, Theede et al., 1969, Schlieper et al., 1967, Hayward & Ryland, 1990,