Ecological aspects of two wood-boring molluscs from the continental terrace off Oregon

Abstract

approved: Dr. James E. McCaule A mooring system was designed and constructed to make possible the installation and the recovery of racks of sample panels for a study of deep-ocean wood-boring molluscs. Racks containing pine, fir, oak, and cedar boards were exposed to borer attack at six stations with depths of 50, 100, 150, 200, 500 and 1000 meters, all west of Depoe Bay, Oregon. Two wood-boring molluscs, a pholad, Xylophaga washingtona Bartsch, and a teredinid, Bankia setacea (Tyron), were recovered from exposed wood materials. Xylophaga washingtona was the dominant form and was found at all three deep stations. Bankia setacea was found only at the 200-meter site and in very low numbers. This reports the deepest known teredinid actively settling and boring into a test board. Borer attack increased in intensity with time, and in general, decreased with increasing depth. Initial attack appeared to Redacted for Privacy