Honors Thesis Archive

AuthorTrevor Hoberty
TitleThe Ruination of the Ship: Shipworms and their Impact on Human Maritime Travel
DepartmentBiology
AdvisorsJames Welch, Kathleen Reinsel, and Michael Mattison
Year2020
HonorsUniversity Honors
Full TextView Thesis (783 KB)
AbstractShipworms, family Teredinidae, are woodboring mollusks that have evolved specialized feeding strategies to glean nutrients from the consumption of wood. Through this feeding strategy, with the assistance of symbiotic Teredinibacter bacteria in the gut, the shipworm breaks down structurally dense wood in the marine ecosystem – introducing previously stored energy back into the system. Historically, this wood consumption has proved disastrous for human seafaring efforts. The destruction caused by means of shipworm feeding is heavily referenced in the historical record from the ancient to modern periods. Most all sailors or marine builders have faced disastrous damage because of the shipworm. Despite the tumultuous relationship present between the shipworm and humanity, this simple clam continues to fascinate researchers across the world.

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