Applied Aquatic Ecosystem Concepts. University of Guelph Custom Coursepack. All bivalves are filter-feeding organisms. The Asian clam is a warm water species and cannot survive waters that freeze.
Fingernail clams are closely related to the Asian clams.
There are four genera, but only three, Sphaerium , Musculium and Pisidium , are common. Most species of Musculium can be found in temporary aquatic habitats. Most other fingernail clams require clean water with high oxygen tensions. In fact, some fingernail clams are oligotrophic indicators. Sphaerium nitidum and Pisidium conventus reach their greatest densities in the profundal zones of oligotrophic lakes or in the shallow waters of lakes in high northern latitudes.