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THE ROLE OF Mya arenaria L. POPULATIONS IN COASTAL
SEDIMENTARY PROCESSES


M-T Gomoiu
Institut Roumain de Recherches Marines Constanta

Abstract
The observations and measurements carried out at Mamaia
(the Romanian black Sea coast) between 1977-1981 led to the
conclusion that every year the storms transport and deposit
on a 1 metre beach lengh an average quantity of nearly 7 tons
of Mya arenaria (out of them 2.4 tons of calcarous shells) 
which accumulate on the shore and modify the chemical and 
granulometric composition of sediments. So far as the supply 
of mineral sediemnts carried by the danube mainly, has
diminuished, the role of mya arenaria populations in 
sedimentary processes has become predominant on the beaches
North of Constanta.