Bivalve monitoring
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Our research: a photo story
Happy as a clam
Every year during the lowest spring and summer tides, we visit the same beaches to check on the clams. Healthy beaches = happy clams.
Long-term basement tenants
A clam spends most of its life buried. Only its feeding siphon hole reveals where it lives. Butter clams can live over 20 years.
Long-term basement tenants
Using a scientific process, we randomly mark half metre squares on the beach. Next, we dig down 25cm into the marked area, picking out all the clams.
Counting clams
We find both native and introduced species like the varnish clam. The average number of clams we count in one hole is around 18!
Annual Check-up
We weigh and measure each clam. After that, we return them to the same hole where we found them.
Surprise shovelful
Many other creatures, like worms and shrimp, also depend on the intertidal area. We never know what the next scoop might bring up.
Our commitment: to protect
By measuring the trends in clam populations over time, we better understand the health of the beaches in the park reserve. This means we make informed decisions about how to protect them.
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A typical feeding siphon hole in the sand.
Clamming
Counting clams
Annual Check-up
Surprise shovelful
Learn more at:
Our commitment: to protect
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