000			01672am a2200205a 44500
092			_a14 _b
260			_c1982
300			_a363-388
650			_aBivalve molluscs
650			_alarvae
650			_aveliger
650			_aplanktotrophic
650			_asestotrophic
650			_amicrophagy
650			_anutrition
650			_aecophysiology
520			_aThe structure of the digestive organs during larval development is described briefly. Surprisingly, the structure of the internal organs of the digestive system in the early veliger is already very similar to that of the adult. In particular, a cristalline stiletto is present in the stomach and a digestive gland containing two cell types (digestive and secretory) is also found. It is thus probable that digestion occurs in much the same way as in the adult. The velum, on the contrary, an exterior organ which collects food particles throughout larval life, presents a totally different structure from its homologue in the adult (palleal cavity with gills and labial palps). The food ingested by the larvae is quite varied. Plant nannoplankton represents the majority of the food. A review is presented of the works concerning the quantity of available food (feeding rate) in relation to growth as a function of several parameters : culture temperature, species studied and larval stage. In all cases, an optimal algal concentration exists to attain maximal growth. The result also varies as a function of the food quality (algal species, particle size, algal culture age), but the differences between algal strains are often minimal or variable, dependig on the experiment.
942			_cBK
999			_c524 _d524