Post #2822603

2026-05-25 01:01 UTC

Larval oysters have an eye which can detect wavelength and intensity of light. They use the ratio of red and blue light to determine the correct depth at which to settle and attach to the bottom, working from the principle that red light doesn't penetrate as far into the water as blue light! They are phototaxic, attracted to depths where red light is present, and swim up and away from places where only blue light is present #clamFacts

Replies (8)

@dantheclamman@scicomm.xyz 2026-05-25 01:01

Images and fact source: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10750-024-05601-7

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@kboyd@phpc.social 2026-05-25 01:05

@dantheclamman@scicomm.xyz neat! Makes me wonder if there are lighting configurations that marinas/boats could employ that specifically target and reduce marine growth.

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@superball@norcal.social 2026-05-25 01:09

@dantheclamman@scicomm.xyz Aww what a cute little eyespot face! 🥰

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@jmccyoung@mstdn.social 2026-05-25 01:19

@dantheclamman@scicomm.xyz Thanks to this toot my wife and daughter (and I) now know what oyster larvae look like; e.g. https://www.seanoe.org/data/00308/41888/thumbnail.gif

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@deepmud@mas.to 2026-05-25 03:45

@dantheclamman@scicomm.xyz who knew oysters had this kind of wisdom? 😋

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@jannem@fosstodon.org 2026-05-25 05:36

@dantheclamman@scicomm.xyz I wonder to what degree there's a two way cause-effect thing going on here. I can imagine that to some degree they evolved to adapt to a depth that they can very reliably estimate with their existing sensory systems. Perhaps a slightly deeper (or shallower) depth might strictly speaking be better, but that was offset by the larger failure rate trying to hit that depth when a larvae.

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@joykill@mastodon.social 2026-05-25 06:18

@dantheclamman@scicomm.xyz oysters love bisexual lighting

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@MokhtarStork@zirk.us 2026-05-25 08:05

@dantheclamman@scicomm.xyz I learnt something today.

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