The behavioral and antioxidant response of the bivalve Gomphina veneriformis to sediment burial effect

A laboratory-based microcosm experiment was carried out to examine both the behavioral and antioxidant response of the clam Gomphina veneriformis under the conditions of 3 types of burial material(sand,silt,silt-sand mixture) with 3 burial depths(5 cm,15 cm,30 cm).The concentration of dissolved oxygen decreased significantly after 3 d of burial in all experimental groups.In silt and sand-silt mixture groups,the interstitial water quality became worsened with lower pH,and higher NH_4~+-N concentration,where clam mortality occurred simultaneously.However,clam samples in all sand groups and 5 cm,15 cm sand-silt mixture groups survived well for 8 d.Obviously fewer individuals left in the bottom sand in the 15 cm,30 cm silt groups and 30 cm sand-silt mixture groups than in the 5 cm groups.Therefore,it suggests that adding silt and increasing burial depth could stimulate the vertical movement of organisms and cause lethal effects.It was found that the burial depth was the key factor that influenced the activities of antioxidant enzymes,such as superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catalase(CAT).The SOD and CAT activities in the gills and hepatopancreases of organisms both showed significant upregulation in 30 cm burial depth after buried for 8 d.Higher enzyme activities were found in gills than in hepatopancreases,which indicated that the gills of the bivalve G.veneriformis were more susceptible to burial effects than hepatopancreases.Overall,this study shows that sediment burial could cause effects on the biological behavior and antioxidant enzyme activities.