Scallops can be found in calm water at a relatively shallow depth during low tide. A decrease in scallop population has been seen due to the destruction of sea grass areas. Scallops are picked by hand and can only be harvested in certain areas due to fear that they make be overharvested.
Scallops filter particles from the water to eat. These particles are not visible to the human eye and fall into two categories: phytoplankton and zooplankton. Bay scallops have a number of predators including humans, starfish, pinfish, cow-nosed rays and seagulls. Scallops have a series of blue eyes around the mantle, and although the eyes are weak, they assist the animal in spotting predators.
Atlantic bay scallops are hermaphrodites, and a single scallop releases both sperm and eggs at different times so it does not fertilize itself, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. Spawning season for scallops starts in August and runs through October. The amount of eggs released is between 100,000 and 1 million, and the juvenile stage is reached within 29 days. Scallops have a lifespan of less than two years and look like a small adult scallop within 35 days of hatching.
Harmful algal blooms have greatly decreased the scallop populations since 1985, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Algal blooms are produced by an increased growth of algae or phytoplankton that cause the water to be murky, making it impossible for scallops to eat. In addition to being tasty seafood, bay scallops are useful in scientific studies. Scientists use bay scallops to study ecosystem health because they are sensitive to changes in water quality, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Since scallops are filter-feeders, they also are helpful in studying the effects of petroleum spills that occur in coastal habitats.