Morphology of the Symbiosis between Corculum cardissa (Mollusca: Bivalvia) and Symbiodinium corculorum (Dinophyceae)

Light and transmission electron microscopy of tissues of the symbiotic clam Corculum cardissa (L) showed that a symbiotic dinoflagellate, Symbiodinium corculorum (Trench), is found predominantly in the mantle and the gills. The data suggest that in C. cardissa the algae are located in a zooxanthellal tubular system that is associated with the hemocoel and is similar to that seen in tridacnine ("giant") clams. The algae occur within the lumen of the tertiary tubules and are thus separated from the hemolymph by a tissue that is one cell layer thick. Under a light microscope the tertiary tubules appear as rows of symbionts originating from the digestive diverticulum, presumably branching from the primary tubules that are also seen in symbiotic tridacnine clams. This morphological arrangement is discussed with regard to the ontogeny and the evolution of the tubular system within symbiotic bivalves.