Effects of long-term starvation on a host bivalve (Codakia orbicularis, Lucinidae) and its symbiont population

The effects of long-term starvation are observed by using transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence in situ hybridization and catalyzed reporter deposition (CARD-FISH) and flow cytometry in order to monitor the anatomical and physiological modifications in the gill organization of the host bivalve Codakia orbicularis and in the symbiotic population housed in bacteriocytes. The studies have shown that host survival under the starvation conditions is linked to symbiont digestion as the main nutritional source.