Shelter

Giant clams would provide a shelter for juvenile and adult coral fishes. Aggregated areas of giant clams and the ridges of their shells make good nursery spots to deposit eggs. In addition, encrusting and burrowing reef animals such as algae, hard and soft corals and other sessile animals, attach on to the shells to use as their homes. A researcher once found 49 species living across 8 giant clams.

Organisms such as corals can be seen growing on the shells of the giant clams. Source: Mei Lin Neo
A fish seeking shelter within the mantles of the giant clams. Source: Mei Lin Neo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giant clams in reefs increase the ruggedness of the coral reefs too. More crevices and holes will be formed for organisms to settle down, look for food or hide. The complexity of the habitat would increase, thus supporting a greater biodiversity. It has been shown that a more rugged reef surface area does correlate to the diversity of species in a reef.