Comparative petroleum hydrocarbons levels and biochemical responses in mussels from hydrothermal vents (Bathymodiolus azoricus) and coastal environments (Mytilus galloprovincialis)

Aliphatic hydrocarbons and PAHs in the whole soft tissues of Bathymodiolus azoricus from three Mid-Atlantic Ridge hydrothermal vents (Menez-Gwen, Lucky Strike and Rainbow), and Mytilus galloprovincialis from three contaminated coastal sites in South Portugal were analysed, and its effects on the digestive gland microsomes mixed-function oxygenase system (MFO) were assessed.Aliphatic hydrocarbons levels were present in the same magnitude in both coastal and hydrothermal environments, while the UCM (unresolved complex mixture) for coastal mussels were higher than in vent mussels. In general, significantly higher PAHs concentrations were found in coastal mussels, compared to B. azoricus where low molecular weight PAHs (2–3 rings) represented the majority of PAHs contrarily to what was observed in M. galloprovincialis. The MFO components were present in both mussel species, and were detected in vent mussels for the first time. However this system seems to have different roles in species from these contrasting environments. In coastal mussels MFO responded to hydrocarbon contamination while response in hydrothermal organisms appeared to be related mainly to endogenous factors.     

Experimental biological effects assessment associated with on-shore brine discharge from the creation of gas storage caverns

Most of the studies on biological and ecological effects associated with brine discharge into the marine environment are related to the operation of desalination plants, for the production of freshwater. In this study we analysed the biological effects of a brine effluent from a completely different source, produced from the lixiviation of rock salt caves, for the creation of natural gas storage caverns. Lethal and sub-lethal endpoints following exposure to the brine were studied in a range of macrofauna species characteristic of the soft and hard bottom habitats in the vicinity of the discharge area, namely the isopod Eurydice pulchra, the annelids Sabellaria alveolata and Ophelia radiata, the sea-urchin Paracentrotus lividus and the bivalve Mytilus galloprovincialis. In a first series of experiments, brine, with salinity above 300, was diluted in distilled water to a salinity value close to that of the seawater in the discharge area (salinity 36) and, surprisingly, none of the exposed species was able to survive or develop into viable larvae. A second series of experiments exposed the species to brine diluted with seawater, simulating more realistic discharge circumstances. All the tested species at all the measured endpoints (adult survival, larval abnormal development, sperm fertilization success) showed negative biological effects in brine solutes always at a lower salinity than that of a salinity control obtained with concentrated seawater. The sub-lethal experiments with larval development of P. lividus, S. alveolata and M. galloprovincialis, and the fertilization success of P. lividus gave EC₅₀ values for the brine solute with salinity in the range of 40.9–43.5, whereas the EC₅₀ values for the concentrated seawater were in the range of salinity 44.2–49.0. It is hypothesised that differences in the ionic composition of the brine cause the inability of the species to tolerate the exposure to brine.     

Susceptibility to oxidative stress of mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) in the Venice Lagoon (Italy)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility to pollutant mediated oxidative stress of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis in the Venice lagoon (Italy).

In June 2003, mussels from a farm were transplanted to eight sites in the lagoon for five weeks. Oxidative stress responses were measured by: (i) total oxyradical scavenging capacity (TOSC) assay, for an overall evaluation of the oxidative stress response capability; (ii) catalase (CAT), as a key enzyme involved in the antioxidant defence system; (iii) malondialdehyde (MDA), as an indicator of lipid peroxidation, to evaluate an oxidative damage; (iv) metallothioneins (MTs), as they play a role in the antioxidant defence.

The TOSC analysis revealed a reduced capability to eliminate: (i) peroxyl radical in mussels transplanted at Palude della Rosa, Valle Millecampi and Chioggia; (ii) hydroxyl radical at Campalto and Valle Millecampi; (iii) peroxynitrite at Valle Millecampi.

Inhibition in CAT activity, observed in all the monitored sites, confirms the presence of an oxidative pressure in transplanted mussels.

In addition, Pearson correlation analysis was performed in order to observe possible links between the various parameters. The PCA was a powerful tool to discriminate impacted sites, suggesting that the mussels transplanted throughout the Venice lagoon were subjected to different levels of oxidative pressure. Furthermore, it provided an easy and useful tool to summarize the obtained results.     

Alkylbenzenes in mussels from South and South East Asian coasts as a molecular tool to assess sewage impact

Alkylbenzenes, molecular markers of sewage, were measured in 34 green mussels collected from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines together with blue mussels collected from Tokyo Bay, Japan. Linear alkylbenzene (LAB) concentrations in South and South East Asian countries ranged from 10 to 1640 ng-∑LAB/g-dry tissue. In some populous cities, LAB concentrations were similar or higher than those found in northern Tokyo Bay which is heavily impacted by sewage effluents. I/E ratios (a ratio of internal to external isomers of LABs) in the South and South East Asian countries (1–3) were much lower than those in Tokyo Bay (3–8), indicating sewage discharged in the coastal zone is poorly treated (e.g., raw sewage and/or primary effluents). Alkylbenzenes with branched alkyl chains, tetrapropylene-based alkylbenzenes, were also detected in mussels from Indonesia and Philippines. This “tell-tale” sign indicates that poorly degradable detergents are still in use in this area, although they have long been phased-out in many industrialized countries.     

Using tolerance intervals to assess recovery of mussel beds impacted by the Exxon Valdez oil spill

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) have been measured in mussel tissues in early spring and summer since 1993 throughout Prince William Sound (PWS) and the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). Season-specific thresholds were established at reference sites to identify ‘above background’ total PAH levels. Thresholds were estimated using one-sided 99% tolerance limits. Thresholds were similar across reference sites but differed by an order of magnitude across seasons. Trends in total PAH since 1998 were assessed for sites impacted by the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill or the Alyeska Marine Terminal. Summer samples exhibited no trends; early spring samples declined. In early spring, all sites were judged ‘recovered’ by 2004; in summer, one site in western Prince William Sound and two in the western GOA exceeded thresholds by 11 ng/g dry weight or less. Robust estimation methods prevented bias from observations affected by unknown releases or laboratory errors.     

Assessment of sacrificial anode impact by aluminum accumulation in mussel Mytilus edulis: a large-scale laboratory test

Since the early 1960s, the application of aluminum alloy sacrificial anodes to mitigate marine corrosion has been well known. The aim of this work was to study aluminum bioconcentration in Mytilus edulis by an in vitro test performed in two tanks: the first containing non-contaminated water (NCW) and the second containing aluminum-contaminated water (CW) (530 μg L⁻¹) released by sacrificial anode. The mussels were collected and examined over a period of 8 weeks. A comparison between the aluminum concentrations in the digestive glands of mussels from the CW and NCW tanks shows that the highest value (1700 mg/kg d.w.) was found in the CW mussels collected after 13 days. In NCW, the mean aluminum concentration in digestive glands during the test was 281 mg/kg d.w. The rapid concentration decrease in digestive glands is probably due to the inhibition of filtering activity due to valve closure at the high concentration as well as the induction of the detoxification response.     

热带珊瑚礁区红腹海参及绿刺参食物来源分析——脂肪酸标志法

沉积食性海参通过大量摄取沉积物在热带珊瑚礁生态系统中发挥重要的生态功能,但其食物来源组成尚不清楚.本文研究了海南三亚近岸典型珊瑚礁海域红腹海参(Holothuria edulis)及绿刺参(Stichopus chloronotus)脂肪酸组成,利用脂肪酸标志法探讨了夏季和冬季两种海参的食物来源异同.结果表明,红腹海参...     

Effects of 4-nonylphenol exposure in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and crabs (Carcinus aestuarii) with particular emphasis on vitellogenin induction

Since it is often difficult to estimate possible adverse effects due to contamination in selected ecosystems, multi-species biomonitoring may provide more information, taking into account different routes of exposure, ecological roles and metabolic capabilities of animals. In this context, we exposed for 7 days the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis and the crab Carcinus aestuarii to 4-nonylphenol (NP), a well-known xenoestrogen. In mussels (0–0.2 mg NP l⁻¹), we measured NP bioaccumulation in soft tissues and vitellogenin (Vg)-like protein levels in digestive glands from both males and females by the alkali-labile phosphate assay (ALP). As no reference data were available for crab exposure, the NP 96-h LC₅₀ value was previously determined. Then, in sublethally exposed (0–1.0 mg NP l⁻¹) male crabs, NP bioaccumulation and Vg levels were measured in hemolymph, gonads and digestive gland. Bioaccumulation of NP increased from 43 to 371 μg g⁻¹ d.w. in mussels, and from 3.6 to 37 μg g⁻¹ d.w. in crabs, depending on the NP concentration in water. Dose-dependent Vg-like protein induction was observed in both species, appearing to be related to NP bioaccumulation, although a partial decrease was recorded at the highest concentration tested. A similar trend was observed in both digestive gland and gonad of exposed crabs; Vg increased to a lesser extent, although significantly, in hemolymph. Results demonstrated that NP induces Vg synthesis both in male and female mussels, as well as in male crabs. On the basis of the responsiveness of both species investigated, a multi-species approach is indicated in biomonitoring programmes.     

紫贻贝(Mytilus edulis)养殖群体的遗传多样性及遗传结构分析

基于线粒体DNA的COⅢ基因序列对我国沿海重要经济贝类紫贻贝3个养殖群体(烟台、乳山、东极)的遗传多样性和遗传结构进行了研究。由PCR扩增获得32个体的COⅢ基因750bp的部分序列,其多态性遗传参数统计显示,32个个体共检出18个单倍型,总群体单倍型多样性指数(Hd)为0.946,核苷酸多样性指数(Pi)为0.0207,平均核苷酸差异数(K)为15.316,三个群体均显示出较丰富的遗传多样性。遗传分化系数(Fst)表明,东极群体与烟台群体及乳山群体已明显分化,而烟台群体和乳山群体间无遗传分化,并且存在着较大的基因流。     

厚壳贻贝(Mytilus coruscus)组织及其海水环境中真菌群落结构差异分析

海洋真菌广泛参与近海生态系统的物质循环和能量流动, 同时与海洋动物之间存在复杂的相互作用。贝类是我国主要的海水养殖生物, 为深入了解海洋真菌与贝类养殖的潜在关系, 选择厚壳贻贝养殖区海水及8种组织真菌为研究对象, 利用荧光定量PCR以及ITS rDNA高通量测序解析养殖厚壳贻贝各组织及所处海水环境的真菌群落丰度和结构特征。结果显示厚壳贻贝养殖区内和边缘海域的真菌丰度显著高于养殖区外围海域; 从贻贝养殖区和组织中共获得1 409个OTUs, 其中粪壳菌纲(Sordariomycetes) 在海水真菌群落为优势纲; 而在贻贝组织中, 锤舌菌纲(Leotiomycetes, 足20.13%、肾脏14.72%)、座囊菌纲(Dothideomycetes, 鳃2.89%、后闭壳肌1.92%、血淋巴1.36%)、散囊菌纲(Eurotiomycetes, 性腺3.59%、足1.57%)和伞菌纲(Agaricomycetes, 性腺3.09%、消化腺2.71%、鳃2.50%)占据优势地位。多样性分析显示厚壳贻贝和海水间真菌群落存在显著性差异; Bray-Curtis相似距离分析显示贻贝真菌群落与养殖区内海水更为相似, 而与边缘和外围海水差距较大。厚壳贻贝不同组织间、不同区域海水间的Beta多样性差异主要来自物种替换; 贻贝与海水间真菌Beta多样性的差异主要来自丰富度差异。综上所述, 厚壳贻贝体内真菌具有组织差异性, 并且养殖活动改变了养殖区海水的真菌群落。研究结果将为贝类真菌资源、贝类-真菌相互作用及生态影响提供基础。