Example; Sea Scallop Placopectin magellanicus
Sea scallops are bivalve molluscs adapted to the lifestyle of a benthic-pelagic filter feeder.
- They are an Atlantic species, ranging from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Carolina Coast
- In the northern part of their range, they occur in shallow water, in the southern part of their range, they occur in water over 55m deep
- found in waters cooler than 20 degrees Celsius
- Very bright for bivalves, they have a well developed brain and sensory “eyes” along perimeter of their mantle
- Sea scallops seek optimal environments-they tend to occur in dense aggregations called “beds” in continental shelf areas where high nutrient availability has led to abundant plankton