Abstract

ROJAS, José E.  and  SEVEREYN, Héctor. Tasa de degradación de madera por el perforador de manglar Psiloteredo healdi (Bivalvia:Teredinidae) en el Lago de Maracaibo, Venezuela. Rev. biol. trop [online]. 2000, vol.48, n.1, pp.153-158. ISSN 0034-7744.

The degradation rate of wood substrates by the two species of bivalve molluscan borers, Bankia fimbriatula and Psiloteredo healdi was studied in the mangrove forest of Ana María Campos Peninsula (Lake of Maracaibo, Venezuela). Pine wood substrates were placed in adjacent waters and the rate of infestation and growth (wood consumption) was recorded. The second species was dominant and occurred throughout the entire study (april to october, 1993), but rates of larval invasion and growth of individuals were influenced by the size of the population present. P. healdi is capable of consuming as much 17.1x10^-3  g of wood/day.

Keywords : Wood consumption; mangrove; destructive potential; Teredinidae; biodegradation.