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| 13 day old razor clams |
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Razor clams feed on a variety of phytoplankton, such as diatoms and dinoflagellates. These include: Pleurosigma, Ceratium, Stephanopyxis sp., Attheya armatus, Asterionellopsis, and Thalassiosira. A diatom, Pseudo-nitzschia, produces domoic acid. For reasons yet unknown to researchers, this diatom doesn't always produce domoic acid. Research is focused on finding the link between abundance and variety of diatoms and dinoflagellates with levels of domoic acid. Assessments of the composition of phytoplankton species and levels are used to enhance west coast harmful algal bloom research.
Here is a microscopic look at the phytoplankton that makes up an Oregon razor clam’s diet:
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| Chaetoceros debilis |
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| Odontella longicarius |
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| Diytlum brightwellii |
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| Pleurosigma sp. |
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| Thalassiosira sp. and Asterionellopsis sp. |
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| Stephanopyxis sp. Attheya armatus sp. |
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| Pseudo-nitzschia |
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| Dinoflagellates |
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| Ceratium sp. |
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| Protoperidinium sp. |
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