• Preface. List of Contributors. Section 1. Descriptive Biology.Systematics and taxonomy (M.E. Harte). Shell structure and age determination (L.W. Fritz). Embryogenesis and organogenesis of veligers and early juveniles (M.R. Carriker). Anatomy and histology of Mercenaria mercenaria (A.F. Eble). Reproduction in Mercenaria mercenaria (A.G. Eversole). Genetics of hard clams, Mercenaria mercenaria (T.J. Hilbish). Section 2. Environmental Biology.Functional morphology and behavior of shelled veligers and early juveniles (M.R. Carriker). Physiological ecology of Mercenaria mercenaria (R.E. Grizzel, V.M. Bricelj, S.E. Shumway). Demography and dynamics of hard clam populations (S.R. Fegley). Integrating nutritional physiology and ecology to explain interactions between physics and biology in Mercenaria mercenaria (C.H. Peterson). Predators and predation (J.N. Kraeuter). Pests, parasites, diseases, and defense mechanisms of the hard clam, Mercenaria mercenaria (S.E. Ford). Section 3. Fisheries, Aquaculture and Human Interactions.Management of hard clam stocks, Mercenaria mercenaria (J.L. McHugh†). A history of hard clamming (C.L. MacKenzie Jr., D.L. Taylor, W.S. Arnold). Aquaculture of the hard clam,Mercenaria(M. Castagna). Introduction of the hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) to the Pacific coast of North America with notes on its introduction to Puerto Rico, England, and France (K.K. Chew). References index. Species index. General index.

"...Anyone involved with an aspect of Mercenaria mercenaria biology will find this book to be a very comprehensive source of information." --World AquacultureG.J. Parsons"...The book is of value for hard clam and molluscan researchers and students not only for its extensive review and synthesis of the literature, but also for highlighting further research opportunities." --Journal of Shellfish ResearchR. Mann"...it should be on the shelf of both shellfish biologists and shallow water ecologists as a reference for many years to come." --AquacultureG.J. Parsons"...yet another important addition to the Developments series. ...The book is of value for hard clam and molluscan researchers and students not only for its extensive review and synthesis of the literature, but also for highlighting further research opportunities." --National Shellfisheries Association