Tolerance of five species of tropical marine mussels to continuous chlorination

The paper examines the relative lethal and sublethal response of five important tropical marine mussels (Perna viridis, Perna perna, Brachidontes striatulus, Brachidontes variabilis and Modiolus philippinarum) to different chlorine concentrations varying from 0.25 to 15 mg l(-1). The mussels were observed to co-exist in the cooling water circuits of a coastal power station that adopted intermittent chlorination as a fouling control technique. The five mussel species showed, in response to chlorination, 100% mortality at significantly different exposure times, indicating significant species-specific variability in chlorine tolerance. For example, at 1 mg l(-1) residual chlorine, B. variabilis and P. viridis took 288 and 816 h, respectively, to achieve 100% mortality. The time taken for 100% mortality decreased with increasing chlorine residual concentration. The effect of mussel size (= mussel age) of P. viridis, P. perna, B. striatulus and M. philippinarum on mortality was significant between 1 and 5 mg l(-1) residual chlorine, with larger mussels showing greater resistance than smaller ones. All mussel species showed progressive reduction in physiological activities when chlorine residuals were increased from 0 to 1 mg l(-1). However, species-specific differences in the relative rate of physiological activities were observed. Accordingly, relative reduction in physiological activities in response to chlorination was the lowest in P. viridis and the highest in B. variabilis. The data clearly indicate significant differences in the lethal and sublethal responses of the five mussel species to chlorination. The results, therefore, suggest that for effective fouling control, chlorine treatment against mussels has to be employed judiciously, depending on the mussel species involved.     

Upper temperature tolerances of exotic brackish-water mussel, Mytilopsis leucophaeata (Conrad): an experimental study

The dark false mussel, Mytilopsis leucophaeata is an important mussel colonising the brackish-water systems of temperate and subtropical regions. Of late it has earned notoriety as a biofouling species in industrial cooling water systems. However, there are no published data on the temperature tolerance of this species. This paper presents data on the upper temperature tolerance of this mussel from the view point of biofouling control using thermal methods. In addition to mortality, response of physiological activities such as oxygen consumption, filtration rate, foot activity and byssus thread production were also studied at temperatures varying from 5 to 35 degrees C. Experiments were also carried out to understand the effect of mussel size, breeding condition, nutritional status and acclimation conditions (temperature and salinity) on the mortality pattern. The physiological activities were significantly reduced at temperatures beyond 27.5 degrees C and ceased at 35 degrees C. In 20 mm size group mussels exposed to 37 degrees C, 50% mortality was observed after 85 min and 100% mortality after 113 min. The effect of mussel size on mortality at different temperatures was significant, with the larger size group mussels showing greater resistance. M. leucophaeata collected during the non-breeding season (December-April) were more tolerant to temperature than those collected during the breeding season (June-October). Nutritional status of the mussel had no significant influence on the thermal tolerance of the mussel: fed and starved (non-fed) mussels succumbed to temperature at comparable rates. The effect of acclimation temperature and acclimation salinity on M. leucophaeata mortality at different temperatures was significant. Survival time increased with increasing acclimation temperature and decreased with increasing salinity. In comparison with other co-occurring species such as Mytilus edulis and Dreissena polymorpha, M. leucophaeata appears to be more tolerant to high temperature stress.     

Effects of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense on the greenshell mussel Perna canaliculus

Abstract

Oxygen consumption, grazing rate, and byssus production of the greenshell mussel Perna canaliculus were measured following exposure to bloom concentrations (10⁶ cells l^?1 ) of a toxic clone of the dinoflagellate AIexandrium tamarense (GT429), using anon‐toxic clone of the same species (PLY173) as control. Following feeding for 1 h on GT429, mussels (dry weight 54–127 mg) showed significantly increased oxygen uptake at 15°C (0.08 μl O₂ (mg dry tissue weight)^?1 ) compared with control mussels. However, following 24 h recovery, oxygen uptake was similar to initial values in all experimental conditions. The grazing rate of P. canaliculus fed upon toxic clone GT429 was 4.58 ± 0.76 cells mg^?1 h^?1 compared with 1.99 ± 0.47 cells mg^?1 h^?1 for PLY173. On exposure to A. tamarense, mussels maintained normal opening behaviour and there was no change in the byssus production over 24 h. It was concluded that P. canaliculus showed no dramatic physiological effects following short‐term feeding on the toxic strain of A. tamarense. During 2 weeks’ exposure to twice daily bloom concentrations of GT429, there was no mussel mortality. Toxicity in the tissues was 1295 μg STX equivalent per 100 g tissue, levels at which these mussels would be unsuitable for human or animal consumption.     

Effects of residual chlorine on the mortality, grazing and respiration of Labidocera euchaeta (Copepoda)

In this study,the authors investigated the effects of residual chlorine on mortality,grazing and respiration of Labidocera euchaeta in laboratory.The grazing rate was evaluated by subtraction method of food concentration and respiration rate was measured using oxygen electrode.It was found that the lethal effect of residual chlorine on L.euchaeta increased with enhanced concentration and prolonged duration.The medium lethal concentration (LC 50 ) of chlorine for L.euchaeta in 24 h was about 0.58 mg/L and the safe concentration was about 0.21 mg/L.However,the grazing and respiration of L.euchaeta decreased by 32.6% and 18.9% when exposed to 0.2 mg/L residual chlorine for 4 h.It indicated that the physiological activities of zooplankton could be suppressed by the residual chlorine less than the safety concentration.Therefore,both survival and physiological activities of the organisms living in the thermal (nuclear) power plant discharging waters should be considered when carrying out the ecological risks assessment.     

Effect of temperature and size on metallothionein synthesis in the gill of Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to cadmium

Although the degree of metal contamination is expected to be a primary determinant of metallothionein (MT) induction in marine mussels, at least at polluted sites, variability caused by temperature, and biotic factors such as size, may need to be considered when interpreting field data. To test the effects of these variables, mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, of different sizes (small: 3.5 +/- 0.5 cm and large: 5.2 +/- 0.7 cm) were exposed to Cd (100 microg l(-1)) at different water temperatures (5, 18 and 25 degrees C) for 34 days. Resultant Cd and MT concentrations in gills were shown to be size dependent and increased significantly with temperature. At the highest temperature tested (25 degrees C) there appears to be a disproportionate effect on Cd accumulation, which raises MT synthesis to exceptionally high levels. The effect of size on MT concentrations was also temperature-dependent: at 18 and 25 degrees C, large mussels exhibited higher MT levels than smaller individuals, whilst at 5 degrees C there were no significant differences between contaminated and control mussels, in either size-group, as a result of the reduced level of MT production at this temperature. When considering the use of MT levels in mussels as a biochemical indicator of metal contamination, the potential influence of factors such as size and temperature on MT-metal relationships needs to be considered. Samples should be of uniform size as far as possible, and collection should be limited to a fixed season (avoiding climatic extremes) to ensure that the effects of these factors on baseline levels of MT is minimised.     

Hydrothermal faunal assemblages and habitat characterisation at the Eiffel Tower edifice (Lucky Strike,Mid‐Atlantic Ridge)

The Eiffel Tower edifice is situated in the Lucky Strike hydrothermal vent field at a mean depth of 1690 m on the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge (MAR). At this 11‐m‐high hydrothermal structure, different faunal assemblages, varying in visibly dominant species (mussels and shrimp), in mussel size and in density of mussel coverage, were sampled biologically and chemically. Temperature and sulphide (∑S) were measured on the different types of mussel‐based assemblages and on a shrimp‐dominated assemblage. Temperature was used as a proxy for calculating total concentrations of CH₄. Based on the physico‐chemical measurements, two microhabitats were identified, corresponding to (i) a more variable habitat featuring the greatest fluctuations in environmental variables and (ii) a second, more stable, habitat. The highest temperature variability and the highest maximum recorded temperatures were found in the assemblages visibly inhabited by alvinocaridid shrimp and dense mussel beds of large Bathymodiolus azoricus, whereas the less variable habitats were inhabited by smaller‐sized mussels with increasing bare surface in between. Larger mussels appeared to consume more ∑S compared with smaller‐sized (<1 cm) individuals and thus had a greater influence on the local chemistry. In addition, the mussel size was shown to be significantly positively correlated to temperature and negatively to the richness of the associated macrofauna. The presence of microbial mats was not linked to specific environmental conditions, but had a negative effect on the presence and abundance of macro‐fauna, notably gastropods. Whereas some taxa or species are found in only one of the two microhabitats, others, such as polychaetes and Mirocaris shrimp, cross the different microhabitats. Temperature was proposed to be a more limiting factor in species distribution than ∑S.     

Detection of DNA damage in mussels and sea urchins exposed to crude oil using comet assay

The single-cell microgel electrophoresis assay or the comet assay was used to evaluate DNA damage of dispersed crude oil on sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) and mussels (Mytilus edulis L.). Sea urchins were exposed to 0.06 and 0.25 mg/L dispersed crude oil in a continuous flow system, while the mussels were exposed to 0.015, 0.06 and 0.25 mg/L dispersed crude oil. Sea urchin coelomocytes and mussel haemocytes were sampled after 4 and 5 weeks exposure, respectively. In the sea urchin coelomocytes, there was a significant concentration-related increase in the percentage of DNA in comet tail. In mussel haemocytes, there was a significantly higher percentage of DNA in comet tail for all treatments compared to the control. The responses were concentration-related up to 0.06 mg/L oil. The two highest exposure concentrations of mussels were not significantly different from each other. These results indicate that the comet assay can be used for biomonitoring of DNA damage in marine invertebrates following oil contamination.     

中华豆蟹对青岛海区贻贝的感染及危害初探

20 0 0年 10月～ 2 0 0 1年 12月 ,对青岛太平角养殖海区的贻贝寄生中华豆蟹的感染情况进行了调查。以肥满指数为指标 ,通过对感染和未感染贻贝的比较 ,分析了中华豆蟹对贻贝的危害程度。结果表明 ,中华豆蟹对贻贝的感染率为 2 .0 %～ 2 0 .4 %。2 0 0 0年 11月和 2 0 0 1年 11月出现 2次感染高峰 ,分别为 9.7%和 2 0 .4 % ;最低感染率出现于 2 0 0 1年 1月和 3月 (均为 2 .0 % )。感染强度为 1～ 5 ,多数为 1(占感染个体的 83.2 % )。贻贝所感染的豆蟹的性别及感染强度与宿主的大小有关。小个体贻贝仅见雄豆蟹感染 ,绝大多数雌豆蟹见于壳长大于 2 cm的贻贝。未发现同一宿主体内同时感染 2只或以上的雌豆蟹。在调查的 15个月中 ,有 11个月被感染贻贝的肥满度显著低于未感染的贻贝 ,且雌豆蟹对宿主肥满度的影响大于雄豆蟹     

Correlation of CYP1A1 induction, as measured by the P450 RGS biomarker assay, with high molecular weight PAHs in mussels deployed at various sites in San Diego Bay in 1993 and 1995

In 1993 collections of marine mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were deployed 1 m from the water surface at six sites in San Diego Bay for 88 days. A similar mussel deployment was conducted in 1995, except the animals were deployed 1 m off the bottom and only for 32 days. After recovery from the sites, tissue was extracted with dichloromethane and the solvent extracts analyzed for chemical contaminant content and the ability to produce CYP1A1 induction in a transgenic cell line (TV101L cells). The cells used in the assay (P450 RGS) are stably transfected with a plasmid containing firefly luciferase linked to human CYP1A1 promoter sequences. Induction (fold increase compared to control) was determined by luminometry 16 h after application of small volumes (2–10 μl) of solvent extracts to cultured cells. Small mussels deployed in the Naval Station (NAV) in 1993 exhibited very high bioaccumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; 52 μg/g) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), in addition to very strong induction of CYP1A1 measured by reporter gene system (RGS) responses. Large mussels deployed at the NAV station in 1993 and intermediate-sized animals placed at three stations within the NAV station in 1995 accumulated 13–29 μg PAH/g and exhibited relatively high RGS responses. Correlation of RGS responses for all mussel samples to the measured PAH concentrations was 0.85 (r²). When the concentrations of seven specific PAHs found in the samples are converted to benzo[a]pyrene equivalents, from previously derived toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) for this test system, and compared to measured RGS responses, the correlations are approximately 0.9. The results of these studies indicate that the RGS biomarker can be used as a screening tool for detection of CYP1A1-inducing compounds in tissues, and an estimate of potential human health or ecological risk from ingestion of contaminated organisms. Positive RGS responses can be followed by detailed chemical analyses of PAHs and coplanar PCBs using the same extract.     

A model describing the interactive roles of predation,competition and tidal elevation in structuring mussel populations

The black mussel Choromytilus meridionalis can survive when exposed in air up to 50 per cent of the time, but it is normally restricted to about 30 per cent exposure by extremes of temperature and desiccation. Growth rates vary greatly with location and tidal elevation, but as they grow, the mussels compete intensively for space, consequent mortality rates being proportional to growth rate. Because growth declines with tidal elevation and as terminal size is approached, losses attributable to competition tend to be greatest in lowshore and sublittoral regions and early in life. There are many predators of mussels, each differing in its feeding rate and technique. The quantities and size distributions of C. meridionalis taken by communities of natural predators at selected sites are estimated. Total predator consumption is compared with rates of loss as individual mussels increase in size and compete for space. Fast-growing populations with large terminal sizes can support dense predator communities with little deleterious effect. Slower-growing ones with a smaller adult size have lower rates of competition-induced mortality and remain vulnerable to predators for longer. They are thus more likely to be predator-controlled. Predators such as gastropods (Natica and Nucella species), which preferentially select small mussels and have low consumption rates, have far less impact than those, such as Octopus spp. and birds, with higher energy demands and capable of taking larger mussels subject to less mortality from other causes.     

Influence of temperature on the physiological responses of the bivalve Brachidontes striatulus and its significance in fouling control.

Heat treatment offers an alternative method of fouling control to chlorination in power plants. In order to optimise such a procedure it is important to understand the responses of fouling organisms to elevated water temperatures. In this paper we report results of experiments on the lethal and sub-lethal effects of temperature on the bivalve Brachidontes striatulus which is one of the major foulants in the process seawater heat exchangers of Madras Atomic Power Station located at Kalpakkam, on the east coast of India. The important physiological activities, such as, oxygen consumption, filtration rate, byssus thread production and faecal matter production were studied at temperatures varying from 20 to 38 degrees C. Three different size groups [3-5 mm shell length (group 1), 6-10 mm (group 2), 11-15 mm (group 3)] of B. striatulus were used for the experiments. The results showed physiological activities were maximum at 35 degrees C, minimum at 20 and 38 degrees C. Physiological activities increased with size except for byssus thread production, which did not show any trend. Survival times showed a reduction from 30 h at 39 degrees C to < 1 h at 45 degrees C and were independent of body size.     

Field application of biochemical markers and a physiological index in the mussel,Mytilus galloprovincialis: transplantation and biomonitoring studies in the lagoon of Venice (NE Italy)

A number of biochemical markers and a physiological index were measured in mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, transplanted or native to five different contaminated sites in the lagoon of Venice. Mussels from Pellestrina, a reference site in the adjacent Adriatic Sea, were transplanted for 6 weeks to areas of the lagoon where indigenous mussels were also collected. As biochemical indices, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, aldehyde dehydrogenase (ADH) and NADPH cytochrome c reductase (NADPHcred) were measured in mussel digestive gland; survival in air as a physiological index was also determined. Biomarker responses varied among sites and between indigenous and transplanted animals. Significant induction of catalase and SOD was shown in animals transplanted to the urban sites of Salute and Chioggia, respectively. In indigenous mussels, induction of SOD and NADPHcred was seen in animals from the polluted site of Treporti and the heavily contaminated industrial area of Marghera. The overall biochemical data indicate significantly higher activity for ADH in transplanted animals in comparison with indigenous ones which, in contrast, present an increase in SOD. As regard survival in air, control mussels did not seem to be healthier in comparison either with transplanted or indigenous ones, suggesting that pollution has no effect on this parameter.     

DNA strand breakage in mussels (Mytilus edulis L.) deployed in intertidal and subtidal zone in Reykjavík harbour

DNA single-strand breaks were analysed in the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) deployed in intertidal and subtidal zones in the PAH contaminated Reykjavík harbour and at a reference site, Hvalfj?rethur, Iceland. DNA strand breaks were analysed by Comet assay in isolated gill and haemocyte cells from six mussels from each site and depth. Increased DNA damage in both gill cells and haemocytes were observed in mussels deployed in Reykjavík harbour compared to the reference site. Intertidal mussels from Reykjavík harbour had higher DNA damage in haemocytes compared to subtidal mussels. The Comet assay seems to be useful for measuring genotoxic exposure in mussels from the field, and that DNA damage might be higher in the intertidal zone either due to higher exposure to contaminants or because of physiological and biochemical responses to variations in oxygen availability.     

Survival of juvenile spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) exposed to bromochlorinated and chlorinated sewage in estuarine waters

The acute toxicity of chlorinated and bromochlorinated treated sewage waste was determined with spot, Leiostomus xanthurus. The halogenated sewage waste was generated in a pilot plant located at the James River Sewage Treatment Plant, Newport News, Va. The 96 h and 144 h LC50's were 0·23 mg/l (measured residual) for chlorine and 0·25 mg/l (measured residual) for bromine chloride. These concentrations are considerably higher than those which would be produced by optimal halogenation rates for disinfection or maximum superhalogenation rates permitted by pilot plant equipment and normal effluent dilution rates.     

Responses of the mussel Mytilus edulis to copper and phenanthrene: Interactive effects

Most investigations of the responses of marine organisms to xenobiotics have concentrated on single contaminants and little is known of possible interactive effects of different classes of xenobiotics. As these latter seldom occur in environmental isolation, it is important to understand any interactions (synergistic or antagonistic) which may occur. This problem has been approached in the mussel Mytilus edulis by exposing estuarine mussels to copper (20 μg litre⁻¹) and phenanthrene (100 μg litre⁻¹) both individually and in combination, and measuring cytochemical subcellular and physiological responses after 3 days exposure and 3 days and 12 days recovery period. Results showed that mussels accumulated both xenobiotics during 3 days exposure. Depuration of copper was complete in 3 days recovery period, while loss of phenanthrene ranged from 30% to 70% of the concentration reached after 3 days exposure. There were no interactive effects on depuration.Both copper and phenanthrene reduced lysosomal hydrolase latency in digestive cells, and copper appeared to have a synergistic effect in preventing recovery of latency of lysosomal N-acetyl-β-hexosaminidase during the recovery period. There was evidence, in the digestive cells, of an antagonistic effect of copper on stimulation of activity of the microsomal respiratory chain (measured as NADPH-neotetrazolium reductase) by phenanthrene. Stimulation of this system by phenanthrene persisted after 12 days recovery period. There was a synergistic interaction of copper and phenanthrene on elevation of oxygen consumption and ammonium excretion. Clearance rates and scope for growth (physiological condition) were depressed by copper but not by phenanthrene after 3 days exposure.These findings are discussed in terms of known effects of copper and phenanthrene and the interactions are considered in terms of environmental effects measurements.     

贻贝(Mytilus edulis)人工育苗的研究

贻贝养殖,在我国沿海地区已经广泛开展。贻贝人工育苗是解决贻贝养殖苗种的途径之一,尤其在自然苗缺乏的地区,或是为了选择优良品种出发,更有其重要意义。我们在过去工作的基础上,于1972—1974年期间,在胶南县海水养殖场进行了贻贝生产性人工育苗试验。以后又在青岛进行了一些培养条件的研究。通过几年的工作,对于育苗的一些重要环节,尤其对于提高室内水池培养到附着阶段的成活率,和探索下海后掉苗的原因,已取得了一定的成果,使人工育苗生产初具规模。现将主要结果报告于下。     

Anthropogenic pollution stimulates oxidative stress in soft tissues of mussel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crenomytilus grayanus</Emphasis> (Dunker1853)

The digestive gland and gills of the mussel Crenomytilus grayanus extracted from three locations — (i) sampled from a clean and (ii) polluted site and (iii) transplanted from the nonpolluted to polluted site - were analysed for antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase), total oxyradical scavenging capacity and levels of lipid peroxidation products (malondialdehyde, conjugated dienes and lipofuscin). Perturbation of redox status was found in both digestive gland and gill tissues of mussels living in the polluted area. As the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase were 1.2–3 times higher, the total oxyradical scavenging capacity was lower by 20–35% and the levels of lipid peroxidation products were 2–7 times higher compared to mussels from the reference site. In transplanted mussels, the lipid peroxidation process in both tissues was significantly stimulated (the level of conjugated dienes was increased 1.7–2.5-fold; malondialdehyde and lipofuscin contents were increased 3.5–5-fold) and the total oxyradical scavenging capacity fell by 50–70%. In addition, the transplantation generally resulted in transient and variable responses of antioxidant enzymes for both tissues. Complex response-behaviour of the antioxidant enzymes strongly points to the necessity of employing a combined approach that takes into account activities of antioxidant enzymes and the total oxyradical scavenging capacity, as well as measurement of oxidative damage (e.g., lipid peroxidation) to evaluate the physiological health of molluscs.     

Metal pollution assessment of the marine environment by determination of metal-binding proteins in Mytilus sp.

Adult mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) (shell length 5–7 cm) exposed to elevated concentrations of Cd (0.1–1.3 mg l⁻¹), in a flowing seawater aquarium under laboratory conditions, responded by elevated synthesis of metal-binding proteins in a digestive gland. Response depended on the Cd concentration level as well as on duration of the exposure time. Results obtained show that inducible proteins (isolated by gel-filtration column chromatography and characterized by electrochemical and spectrophotometric methods) should be considered metallothionein-like proteins.The induced metal-binding proteins of mussels in specific organs or tissues are considered to be a potential biological indicator of metal pollution, taking into account specific qualities of the mussel response to different metals. The advantages of the analytical methods applied (gel-chromatography and polarography) and the relevance of the laboratory data when transferred to environmental conditions are discussed. Previously reported results dealing with metal-binding proteins of Mytilus species are also summarized.     

含氯消毒剂用于细菌性虾病防治的药理

探讨次氯酸钙和二氯异氰尿酸钠两种代表性含氯消毒药物,为含氯消毒剂应用于细菌性虾病的防治提供理论依据。实验表明:有效氯在海水中的丧失随温度上升、pH值下降而加速。常见对虾病原菌对有效氯非常敏感,有机物增加、pH值上升使杀菌率下降。两种药物对实验中国对虾的48h半致死浓度为2.74～2.88mg/L有效氯。长期施以高于安全浓度的药物对实验虾之存活率、增长率等指标无不良影响,施药组发病率远远低于对照组。