Giant Clams Can Manipulate Light To Assist Their Symbiotic Partner

Special cells in giant clams shift the wavelength of light to protect them from UV radiation and increase the photosynthetic activity of their symbionts, shows research KAUST. Using special cells, known as iridocytes, the clams can manipulate light via layers…

Giant Clam Colors Could Hold Key To More Efficient Biofuels

Giant clams are full of surprises – not only are they very well adapted to high levels of sunlight on the reef but it seems out they might have some tricks that we can tap into ourselves. Anyone who’s ever…

Giant clams are even more specialized to harvest light than we thought

We all know that giant clams of the Tridacna and Hippopus genera are fast-growing molluscs which are found in shallow water reef waters where they can bask in the sunlight, harvesting energy from their symbiotic zooxanthellae. Unlike corals which have Symbiodinium zooxanthellae which…