Dietary Changes in the Ark Clam (Anadara kagoshimensis) Is Associated with Phytoplankton Community Patterns in a Temperate Coastal Embayment

The monthly phytoplankton communities and dietary items of the filter-feeding ark clam (Anadara kagoshimensis) in cultivation were examined a shallow temperate coastal embayment Yeoja Bay Korea, to identify changes clams associated with community patterns. A self-organizing map (SOM) algorithm was applied shape structures phytoplankton. Clam δ13C δ15N values determined compared those phytoplankton, microphytobenthos, suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM), sedimentary (sedimentary OM), Phragmites australis. Our SOM clustered communities, revealing seasonal shift dominance large-sized diatoms (sporadically together dinoflagellates), which detected almost year-round, small-sized taxa (chlorophytes, prasinophytes, prymnesiophytes), observed May–June. measurements revealed that pelagic benthic serve as main contributors diets. reduction their contribution accompanied considerable increment detritus association during late spring. results suggest critical spring period life cycle may decrease availability preferred (i.e., size-related food quality) lead relation climate forcing this warming sea.