Other greenhouse-related research has shown that quahog growth rates improve when the clams are fed a mixed diet consisting of more than one species of algae. This algae-producing system subsequently was integrated into an automated clam upweller recirculating feeding system. While this clam will not survive the high temperatures typical of Georgia waters during summer months, it does exhibit rapid growth rates when planted in fall and harvested in spring. Bay Scallop Bay scallops, Argopecten irradians concentricus , do not occur naturally in coastal Georgia, but field grow-out studies have shown that they do grow and survive well in shrimp ponds at the Waddell Mariculture Center in South Carolina and tanks at the Shellfish Aquaculture Lab. Bay scallops will not survive in Georgia rivers during summer months when planted in pearl nets, due to the overwhelming number of oyster spat which attach themselves to the scallops during May to September.
Scallops are completely enveloped and subsequently die.
Studies on the growth and reproductive cycle of the blood ark, Anadara ovalis , in Georgia are now underway. Arks grow from spat size in September to 40mm by the next fall, indicating that a commercial crop can be achieved within one year.