Some clams spend months saving up tens of millions of sperm, eggs, or both and release them at once in an epic clam orgy. These mass spawning events may be timed using lunar cycles, the occurrence of a critical temp, or adequate planktonic food available to sustain their larvae. Other clams, particularly at low latitudes where seasonal variability is lower, may "trickle spawn" at a low level all year. I am currently investigating patterns of reproductive strategy across bivalves. #clamfacts
The European date mussel engages in mass spawning events in the late summer when the moon is between full and last quarter. Zuljevic et al 2018 reported "the seawater becomes grey-brown and transparency falls to less than 0.5m. Spawning locations have a smell of the bivalve." They were brave enough to get these pictures. #clamfacts
@dantheclamman Smell of the Bivalve should be the name of your band.
@quokka @dantheclamman First single: Zygote in the water.
@Surasanji @dantheclamman first album: "Epic Clam Orgy"