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Clamsplaining

I'm Dan Killam. I'm an environmental scientist studying clams, climate, pollution, and conservation.

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Recent Posts: Clamsplaining

Why I like scicomm on Mastodon!

A coral, a worm and some clams walk into a bar…

New job! Where I’m going and how I got here

Research Explainer: How I learned to stop worrying and trust the clams

Gollum clams

So good to be back at my favorite place on earth Reunited with Junior the clam after a year. He is doing very well in a new home designed by the Biosphere 2 ocean staff, a shallow side tank with a new, more powerful light above. As he grew in size, his photosynthetic needs grew as well. His previous home in the main Biosphere ocean tank was no longer providing enough light over a long enough period of the day, particularly in the winter. But he has definitely grown a couple cm since I saw him last, and has a new vivid green color (he was more orange when I left). There is an urchin tucked in next to him, which is classic urchin behavior. They like to feel cozy. I feel very confident in this new long-term home for him and am very grateful for the B2 staff figuring out this innovative solution! Over the next few months, an enormous lighting structure will be installed over the Biosphere ocean, an effort that has been years in the making, which might allow for clams to be grown out there again! Rainy day purrito Came for the science, but found plenty of other great stuff in the process! I'll definitely be back, cheers 🍻 Headed to Southampton, UK to work with collaborator Gavin Foster at the National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton! We are studying how giant clams record pH in their shells through boron isotopes and trace elements. We are measuring some of the @biosphere2 clams using frickin laser beams! We shoot the cross section of the shell with a tiny, powerful laser and collect the gas to measure in a mass spectrometer. Because these clams grow up to 4 cm per year, they could produce a daily record of the pH they experienced over their lives. Such a "proxy" record of pH could tell us how their ancient ancestors weathered past intervals of natural ocean acidification, and how wild clams will fare as the modern day ocean acidifies due to human CO2 emissions! This work was funded by @uazresearch and @theroyalsociety! Sensitive plant started blooming! I started this seed 2 years ago in a terrarium, and has been very rewarding watching it grow into a 2 foot tall plant. This flower burst out of the bud this morning like a firework. Sadly, the plants typically decline after blooming, but I have some new sprouts on the way. Nepeta cataria (catnip) is a member of the mint family that produces a compound called nepetalactone. This substance produces feelings of euphoria (including endorphin release) in about 2/3 of cats, acting through the nasal mucosa, though cats also usually eat it when they find it. The compound also is a strong insect repellent, which is probably why catnip evolved the compound in the first place. Arthur is not strongly influenced by catnip, with the effects only lasting a couple minutes. Some cats can get a bit high off it for about 15 minutes. He is not really interested in the dried stuff at all, but really likes fresh leaves, rolling around in it, eating it and getting very fiesty. Look at this show-off! He loves his new Turbo sarmaticus shell. He changes pants every couple days because why not? #crabfashion 🦀 🐚 👖
Tweets by DantheClamMan

RSS Inaturalist Observations

  • Cumberland Rock Shield
  • polypody ferns
  • beardtongues
  • Common Gilled Mushrooms and Allies
    Sorry didn't get a shot of the gills, was in a rush
  • Onyx Slippersnail
  • Tridacna squamosina
    At the aquarium in Eilat
  • Barn Funnel Weaver
  • coyote brush
  • Cotoneasters
  • Fragrant Everlasting

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