Long-term changes (1979–1994) in two coastal benthic communities (English Channel): analysis of structural developments

The long-term variations of two coastal benthic communities (Eastern English Channel, France) were studied between 1979 and 1994 by means of factor correspondence analysis (FCA), trophic structure and rank-frequency diagrams (RFD). FCA identified periods of relative homogeneity and periods of strong variation in the structure of the two communities. The first community, established on heterogeneous sand, showed a multi-annual cycle linked to grain-size variations in the sediment. As passive supplies of organic matter were not important and suspension feeders could hardly live in these conditions, the community remained poor and stable and was dominated by deposit-feeders and carnivores. The other one, a rich and diverse mussel (Mytilus edulis) bed, showed great variations in the abundance of the main species which generated the enrichment of the community by its suspension-feeding behaviour (biodeposition). Beyond these variations, the community remained stable until 1990 as no continuous trend or permanent change could be seen. Since 1990, no recruitment of M. edulis occurred and the relative dominance of suspension feeders, as well as the number of species, strongly decreased. During the following years, several species of tunicates (sessile suspension feeders with gregarious recruitment) recruited and partly took the ecological niche of M. edulis but they did not induce an increase of biodeposition and the previous richness was not restored. After a strong and rapid shift in the structure, a new equilibrium has been established within the community.     

The Effect of an Infaunal Suspension Feeding Bivalve Mercenaria mercenaria (L.) on Benthic Recruitment*

Abstract. Animal-animal interactions are recognized as critical in benthic invertebrate recruitment. The hypothesis tested was that benthic recruitment is more successful in low densities of infaunal suspension feeders than in high densities. Densities of young hard clams Mercenaria mercenaria (L.) ranging from 82.5 to 330m^-2 were placed in defaunated boxes of sand. The mean number of species, mean number of individuals, mean wet weight biomass, mean species richness and mean dominance index per sample were calculated per density of hard clams from May to October. The experiment did not support the hypothesis. It was concluded that feeding behaviour of dense populations of M. mercenaria did not preclude successful recruitment of other benthic species.     

Numbers of larvae and primary plantigrades of the mussel Mytilus edulis in the western Dutch Wadden Sea

Abundance of larvae and primary plantigrades in the blue mussel Mytilus edulis L. was studied quantitatively in the western part of the Dutch Wadden Sea. Observations were made in seven years between 1981 and 1996. In general, a first large peak of larvae appeared in May, followed by one or more much smaller peaks until September. For pelagic larvae an approximate life time of four to six weeks was calculated (on average about five weeks). Pelagic larvae appeared to have a relatively higher survival chance at low larval concentrations than at high concentrations. No relation could be demonstrated between time of larval peaks and spring tides. Year-to-year differences in abundance of plantigrades did not predict mussel recruitment success on nearby tidal flats.     

Dominance of blue mussels versus consumer-mediated enhancement of benthic diversity

In the shallow subtidal of Kiel Fjord (western Baltic Sea), the blue mussel Mytilus edulis is the dominant competitor for space. Vertically suspended settlement substrata in the upper 6 m of the water column almost invariably become dominated by M. edulis within a few summer months. However, not all naturally available hard substrata bear mussel monocultures.In three in situ experiments we investigated the dominance of mussels and the influence of local consumers on establishment and dynamics of a benthic community: (a) the natural course of succession in the absence of benthic consumers was followed on vertically suspended settlement substrata, (b) settling plates were exposed to natural recruitment being either accessible or inaccessible to all benthic consumers, and (c) the three major local consumer species, viz. the shore crab Carcinus maenas, the starfish Asterias rubens and the periwinkle Littorina littorea, were enclosed separately in cages containing a settling panel to assess species-specific consumer effects on recruitment.The results illustrate that in this region of the Baltic Sea mussels do have the potential to dominate ungrazed substrata within a few weeks and that top-down effects (predation and grazing) may control community structure. While some species - mussels in particular - were suppressed by consumption, others seemed to benefit from the presence of consumers. Thus, barnacles and algae thrived when consumers were present. Blue mussels being the locally dominant competitor, the beneficial effects of consumers on barnacles and algae were presumably indirect ones through consumer-caused release from asymmetrical competition.The isolated effects of C. maenas, A. rubens and L. littorea, on recruitment differed in quality (positive vs. negative), quantity (strength of effect) and specificity. Barnacle recruitment was significantly reduced in the presence of both starfish and shore crabs. Diatom recruitment was significantly reduced by snails and shore crabs. Scyphozoan recruitment was significantly reduced by crabs only, but was significantly increased by snails. The influence of the shore crabs was most remarkable: recruitment by any potential coloniser species was impeded to a point where in the presence of single individuals of C. maenas the plates stayed perfectly clean macroscopically.     

Negative effects of blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) presence in eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds in Flensborg fjord,Denmark

The effect of blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) presence in eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds was studied from June 2004 to July 2005 in Flensborg fjord, Denmark. The field experiments were conducted at two stations, one with only Z. marina (Eelgrass station) present and one where M. edulis were present in the Z. marina beds (Mixed station). Zostera marina parameters were measured (growth of leaves, shoot density, leaf length, and nutrient content) in combination with epiphyte cover and sediment parameters (sulphate reduction rates, sediment nutrient fluxes, organic content, C, N and P content) to examine possible positive and negative effects of the mussels on eelgrass performance. The fluxes of ammonium from the sediments were stimulated at all sampling dates at the Mixed station, and possibly stimulated epiphyte growth at this station. Further ¹⁵N signals in epiphytes from the Mixed station suggested that excretion products from the mussels were important nitrogen sources at this station. Sulphate reduction rates were enhanced at the Mixed station and also sediment sulphide concentrations increased under mussel influence, which may have resulted in sulphide toxicity and decreased growth of Z. marina at this station. The study indicates that for Z. marina beds in Flensborg Fjord the effects of M. edulis in seagrass beds are primarily negative, and raises the question whether this leads to negative effects on the stability and expansion of Z. marina beds.     

The activation of aromatic amines in some marine invertebrates

Recently we found that the postmitochondrial fraction of marine mussel (Mytilus edulis) digestive gland metabolizes aromatic amines readily but not polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.¹ Here we present some properties of similar biotransforming capacity of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis and preliminary evidence for the presence of similar exclusive metabolism of aromatic amines in all marine invertebrates tested so far.     

Aggregational behavior of the blue mussels Mytilus edulis and Mytilus trossulus: a potential pre‐zygotic reproductive isolation mechanism

The blue mussels Mytilus edulis and Mytilus trossulus occur sympatrically and are able to hybridize in populations on the eastern coast of Newfoundland, Canada, presenting an opportunity to study their aggregational behavior. Aggregation behavior may therefore provide insight into post‐settlement interactions and pre‐zygotic reproductive isolation between the species. Three treatments were designed using M. edulis and M. trossulus to investigate their intraspecific and interspecific spatial distribution patterns. With Ripley’s K‐function and Monte Carlo simulation analysis, we found that in the single‐species treatment, M. edulis aggregated significantly but not M. trossulus. Based on results of two‐way ANOVAs, both the number of aggregations and the moving distance were significantly affected by the treatments (single‐species or mixed‐species treatment) and times (24, 48, 72 and 96 h). In further pairwise comparisons using Tukey’s test, M. edulis aggregated differently with or without M. trossulus occupying the same tank, suggesting that the aggregational behavior of M. edulis could be driven by species‐specific chemical cues. The result that M. edulis aggregates intraspecifically may increase the probability of intraspecific fertilization of the spawned gametes and thus function as a pre‐zygotic reproductive isolation mechanism maintaining the blue mussel hybrid zone.     

EFFECTS OF 137Cs, 131I AND 32P ON THE EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT OF MUSSEL AND SEA-URCHIN

Preliminary investigations were recently made in laboratory on the effects of low-levelradioactivity contaminated by radioisotopes using embryonic of mussel (Mytilus edulis) andsea-urchin (Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus) as the material. The gametes and various stagesof fertilized eggs of mussel and sea-urchin were maintained in seawater contaminated with~(137)Cs (~(131)I or ~(32)P) over the concentration range 10~(-10)Ci/L to 10~(-2) Ci/L. The effects     

Biogenic and pollutant aliphatic hydrocarbons in Mytilus edulis from the North Sea

Capillary gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) have been used to examine the aliphatic hydrocarbon fraction of specimens of the mussel, Mytilus edulis, collected from the legs of a North Sea oil-production platform. In addition to an unresolved complex mixture (UCM) of fossil fuel pollutant hydrocarbons (ca. 64 μg g^?1 dry weight average), the fraction was dominated by large amounts (ca. 21 μgg^?1 dry weight) of C₃₁ and C₃₃n-alkenes with 2, 3 and 4 double bonds. These alkenes have also been identified in the ubiquitous marine alga, Emiliania huxleyi, and in some species of fish taken from the North Sea. The close correspondence in the composition data suggest that, in the mussel, these alkenes arise from a biogenic dietary source, most probably from Emiliania huxleyi. This contention is supported by the identification in the mussel of unusual C₃₇, C₃₈ and C₃₉ unsaturated straight-chain ketones which have recently been shown to be biosynthesised by Emiliania.     

紫贻贝对 65Zn累积和排泄机制的研究

不少学者对Zn和~(65)Zn任海洋生物中的累积、排泄和组织分布方面进行了大量的研究,但对共累积和排泄的机制并不清楚。近年来,国外在达方面有了些报道,如Gcorge等,运用电子显微镜和x-射线扫描分析方     

Differential recruitment of introduced Pacific oysters and native mussels at the North Sea coast: coexistence possible?

Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas Thunberg 1793) have been introduced into the Wadden Sea (North Sea), where they settle on native mussel beds (Mytilus edulis L.), which represent the only extensive insular hard substrata in this soft-sediment environment. As abundances of C. gigas rose, some mussel beds became increasingly overgrown with oysters, whereas others did not. Field experiments revealed that recruitment of C. gigas was higher in the lower intertidal than in the upper subtidal zone, that it was higher on conspecifics than on mussels, and that it was not affected by barnacle epigrowth except when settling on mussels. Mussel recruitment is known from inter- and subtidal zones. It occurred equally on oyster and mussel shells but showed a clear preference for barnacle epigrowth over clean shells. Assuming that settlement and recruitment are key processes for species abundances on the North Sea coast, it is predicted that the positive feedback in oyster settlement will lead to rapid reef formation of this invader at the expense of mussel beds. Mussels, however, may escape competitive exclusion by settling between or on the larger oysters especially when barnacles are abundant. Experimental patches with mussels were more often covered by fucoid algae (Fucus vesiculosus forma mytili Nienburg) than patches with oysters, and oyster recruitment was poor underneath such algal canopies. Thus, fucoids may provide the native mussels with a refuge from the invading oysters and the two bivalves may coexist, provided food is not limiting.     

短蛸(Octopus ocellatus)酪氨酸蛋白激酶基因的克隆及其mRNA在细菌刺激后的表达规律

从前期构建的短蛸(Octopus ocellatus)c DNA文库中克隆获得了一个短蛸酪氨酸蛋白激酶(Oo Btk)基因的c DNA全长,其c DNA全长1191 bp,包括5’非编码区(UTR)259 bp,3’UTR 227 bp,开放阅读框(ORF)705 bp,编码234个氨基酸,预测理论等电点为8.50,分子量为27.7 k Da。运用实时荧光定量PCR法分析了在健康短蛸的不同组织以及鳗弧菌和藤黄微球菌刺激后血细胞中Oo Btk的表达规律,结果表明:Oo Btk在肌肉、外套膜、鳃、鳃心、系统心脏、肝胰脏、肾囊、胃、性腺和血细胞等各检测组织中均有表达,其中在肝胰脏的表达量最高;短蛸经鳗弧菌和藤黄微球菌刺激后,Oo Btk在血细胞中的表达量呈现出了明显的被诱导表达趋势,在鳗弧菌和藤黄微球菌刺激后6 h表达即增强,并分别在鳗弧菌刺激后48 h和藤黄微球菌刺激后12 h达到最高。Oo Btk参与短蛸对于鳗弧菌和藤黄微球菌刺激的应答过程。     

Birds, seals and the suspension culture of mussels in Bantry Bay, a non-seaduck area in Southwest Ireland

Concerns about the environmental impacts of mariculture have grown in recent years in response to the rapid expansion of the industry. The blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) is the main product of shellfish mariculture in the Northeast Atlantic and Baltic Sea, with approximately one third of the harvest cultured using suspended longlines within sheltered marine areas. The main aim of this study was to examine the interactions, and assess the impacts (if any) of mussel suspension culture on the seabird and seal community, employing a simultaneous study of culture and control sites. The study spanned a 20-month period (from November 2001 to August 2003) and encompassed six sites in Bantry Bay (Southwest Ireland).There was no significant difference in species richness between mussel and control sites. Similarly, species diversity did not significantly differ between the mussel and control sites although control sites were generally more diverse than mussel sites, the latter particularly dominated by large numbers of Laridae.Significantly higher numbers of Phalacrocoracidae, Laridae and Alcidae were recorded in mussel sites than in control sites. However, no significant difference was found between Gaviidae or common seal (Phoca vitulina) numbers in mussel and control sites. Seasonal patterns of abundance were similar in mussel and control sites, with peak numbers of most species groups occurring in spring.Mussel suspension culture does not appear to have an adverse effect on the abundance of seabirds or common seals in this area. The safe perching platforms provided by suspension culture floats, combined with a number of other factors, contribute to an increased abundance of a number of seabird species, particularly Laridae. The possible interactions between vertebrate predators and mussel suspension aquaculture are discussed and possible explanations for the increased seabird abundance observed in these areas are offered.     

Multi-xenobiotic resistance in Mytilus edulis

Primers based on known multidrug resistance (MDR) protein sequences hybridized with Mytilus edulis cDNA and led to the amplification of two major bands (approximatly 350 and 2500 bases long) corresponding to fragments of expected size as compared to human MDR genes.MDR protein levels in mussel tissues can be quantified with an ELISA test using the monoclonal antibody C219.     

Teneurs en benzo 3,4 pyrène chez Mytilus edulis L. de l'estuaire et du golfe du Saint-Laurent

Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis L.) taken from 27 stations along the estuary and gulf of St. Lawrence were analyzed for their content in 3,4-benzopyrene. Most of the concentrations are below the detection limit for the analytical method, i.e. 0·15 μg kg^?1 (dry weight) and probably reflect the natural baseline level. However, mussels from two stations located at the mouth of Saguenay Fjord exhibit very high contents: 24 and 28·5μg kg^?1 (dry weight). A mussel transplantation experiment has shown that the entire Fjord is contaminated by anthropogenic 3,4-benzopyrene.     

Experimentally determined Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios in juvenile bivalve calcite for Mytilus edulis: implications for paleotemperature reconstructions

To further evaluate the potential use of Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios as a paleothermometer in the shell carbonate of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis, we grew juvenile mussels (～15 mm shell height; <2 years old) collected from Maine, USA, in controlled environments for 4 months. The four-by-three factorial design consisted of four circulating temperature baths (7, 11, 15 and 19°C), and three salinity ranges (23, 28, and 32). During the experiment, water Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca molar ratios were monitored weekly, and showed little variation across all salinity and temperature ranges. Data from sampled shells including all salinity treatments yielded relatively poor relationships between shell elemental chemistry and water temperatures. However, if only the low salinity treatment data (23) are used, the relationships between shell elemental chemistry and water temperature improve moderately. Based on the data presented here, it may be possible to use Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios from the shell carbonate of juvenile M. edulis to reconstruct paleotemperatures in estuarine settings (salinity below 24) with a corresponding RMSE (root mean squared error; 95% confidence interval) of ±2.4°C and ±2.8°C, respectively. In order for this methodology to be statistically meaningful, water temperature changes must be rather large, as the errors associated with using Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios from the shell material of M. edulis are substantial. Further work is required to determine if the findings presented here can be duplicated, and if the potential salinity effect is pervasive.     

紫贻贝对124sb累积、排出和结合的实验研究

锑在生物体内是一种有害元素。它能抑制某些酶的作用,与血清中的巯基结合,干扰蛋白质、醣的代谢和肝内产生糖元。关于锑对海洋生物的影响,研究得很少。Friedrich Walz用酒石酸锑钾研究了紫贻贝对锑的吸收与排出。本实验从~(124)Sb(NO_3)_3作为示踪剂,研究锑在紫贻贝体内的累积、排出及结合的情     

Some effects of copper on the veliger larvae of the mussel Mytilus edulis and the Scallop Pecten maximus (Mollusca, Bivalvia)

During 1983 and 1985 several batches of laboratory reared veliger larvae of Mytilus edulis and Pecten maximum here subjected to a rank of concentrations of added copper (CuCl₂) over a 15-day period. M. edulis larvae were less sensitive, measured both as mortality (15-day LC₅₀) of 400 μglitre⁻¹) and reduced growth, than P. maximus larvae (15-day LC₅₀ of 85μg litre⁻¹). Both species appeared less sensitive to Cu than other bivallve larvae previously studied. Veliger larvae of M. edulis are from 7 to 10 times more tolerant of Cu than juveniles or adults and this unexpected finding is discussed in relation to the recent literatures on Cu toxicity and accumulation in mussels.     

Two CYP3A-like genes in the marine mussel Mytilus edulis: mRNA expression modulation following short-term exposure to endocrine disruptors

Members of the vertebrate CYP3A subfamily are involved in the metabolism of steroids and a wide range of xenobiotics. In this study two CYP3A-like mRNAs have been isolated from the mussel (Mytilus edulis), and their seasonal expression profile and modulation by estrogens examined. Sexual dimorphism of CYP3A-like mRNA expression was not observed in mussel gonads of individuals collected throughout a year. Nevertheless, natural variation in gonadal CYP3A-like mRNA expression was observed, with highest levels of CYP3A isoform1 and lowest levels of CYP3A isoform2 mRNA during the maturation and spawning season. Exposure to a 10% sewage treatment works extract did not result in any significant changes in mRNA expression of CYP3A-like. In contrast, exposure to E2 (200 ng/L) and TBT (100 ng/L) significantly down-regulated the expression of CYP3A-like isoform1 but not CYP3A-like isoform2 suggesting differential regulation.     

Reduced survival and condition of the bivalves Protothaca staminea and Mytilus edulis buried by decomposing bark

The bivalves Protothaca staminea and Mytilus edulis were exposed to five depths of decomposing bark from an active log transfer facility for 13–96 days in a field experiment at Auke Bay, Alaska. Survival and condition of both species was inversely related to depth and duration of bark coverage. As little as 6 cm of bark reduced survival; survival declined most rapidly between 10 and 15 cm of bark. The depths of bark under which half the animals died after 96 days of exposure were 12·8 ± 1·6 cm for P. staminea and 10·9 ± 1·5 cm for M. edulis. Interstitial water in the bark deposits had low concentrations of dissolved O₂ (2·5–5·3 mg/liter) and elevated concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (1·0–8·1 mg/liter total sulfide) and ammonia (46–131 μg-at N/liter) compared to the surface water from the control treatment. Survival of P. staminea and M. edulis was inversely related to concentrations of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia and directly related to dissolved O₂ concentrations.