The Energetic and Nutritional Contribution of Glucose and Glycine Taken up from Natural Sea Water by Adult Marine Mussels

Abstract. The removal of glycine and glucose by freshly collected adult Mytilus edulis was determined using radiolabeled substances added to ambient concentrations of dissolved organic materials in freshly collected natural sea water. Uptake rates were calculated for substrate concentrations of 0.5 μM glycine and 1.0 μM glucose and were compared with the animals' energy and nitrogen demands as measured by oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion rates. Respiration and ammonia excretion rates as well as cither glycine or glucose removal were all determined for the same animals. The mean respiration rate was 670μl O₂ g^-1h^-1, the mean ammonia excretion rate 1.95 μg-at NH₄-g^-1 h^-1. The calculated uptake rates were 0.48 μmol -g^-1-h^-1 for free amino acids and 0.44 μmol-g^-1 h^-1 for free simple sugars. Such uptake rates could have contributed roughly 13% of the mussels' energy requirements or 10% of the mussels' nitrogen requirements assuming the following conditions: 0.5 μM concentration of free amino acids, 1.0μM concentration of simple sugars, uptake of total amino acids at a rate based on a weighted removal rate of glycine, alanine, serine, and glutamic acid, and uptake of simple sugars at a rate equal to that of glucose removal. It is apparent that simple organic substances dissolved in sea water may be of some benefit to mussels, especially when the substances occur in concentrations typical of coastal sea water.     

石油对紫贻贝早期发育影响的研究

紫贻贝(Mytilus edulis L.)不同发育阶段,对海洋石油污染的敏感性差异很大。本文初步研究了20号轻柴油,对胚胎和早期面盘幼虫生长发育的影响。研究结果表明,低浓度污染(1.25、2.50mg·L~(-1)),对早期生长率的影响较小;中等浓度(5.00mg·L~(-1))对生长率的影响显著(P<0.05);高浓度污染(10.00mg·L~(-1)),影响极显著(P<0.01)。油污染对早期发育死亡率影响较明显,随着浓度梯度的增加,早期发育阶段死亡率也随之增加。实验过程中发现,石油污染,对紫贻贝担轮幼虫阶段,有较强的致畸效应,而对面盘幼虫阶段的致畸效应,有所下降。随着胚胎不断发育,畸形个体大量死亡,畸形率有下降的趋势。     

Effects of 17β-estradiol exposure in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis were exposed to different concentrations of estradiol (20, 200, and 2000 ng/l) in a semi-static regime (1-day dosing intervals) for up to 7 days in an attempt to see how mussels dealt with exogenous estrogenic compounds. Sex hormone levels were determined in whole tissue. Free-estradiol was only significantly elevated at the highest exposure dose (up to 10-fold). Most of the estradiol was in the tissues as fatty acid esters (>78%), which sharply increased in a dose-dependent manner (from 4 ng/g in controls to 258 ng/g at the high exposure group). In contrast, neither free nor esterified testosterone levels showed significant differences between control and exposure groups. The results suggest the existence of mechanisms that allow mussels to maintain their hormonal status, and the important role that fatty acid esterification may play within those mechanisms. Synthesis and conjugation rates of estradiol were further investigated by measuring the activity of P450 aromatase, and palmitoyl-CoA:estradiol acyltransferase, in digestive gland microsomal fractions. Overall, the study contributes to the better knowledge of molluscan endocrinology, and defines new mechanisms of regulation of free steroid-levels in mussels.     

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     

Recent trends in organochlorine residues in mussels (Mytilus edulis) from the Mersey Estuary.

Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) taken from several sites in the Mersey Estuary, an urban-industrial water body in NW England, have been analyzed for residues of the persistent organochlorines, DDT, PCB congeners nos. 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180 (ICES7), and alpha-MHCH (alpha-methyl hexachlorocyclohexane). The concentration range for sigmaPCB (ICES7) was 13.9-34.9 microg kg(-1) in 1994 compared with 9.6-31.9 microg kg(-1) in 1998, whilst the equivalent concentrations of sigmaDDT were 8.9-32.4 microg kg(-1) and 4.5-16.8 microg kg(-1), respectively. The concentration of alpha-MHCH, an organochlorine largely restricted to the Mersey Estuary, was 1.2-11 microg kg(-1) in 1994 and 0.3-1.3 microg kg(-1) in 1998. At both sampling dates the inner estuary sites of Rock Ferry and Egremont were more contaminated than the outer estuary sites of New Brighton. Dove Point and Caldy Blacks. The lower concentrations of organochlorines in mussels in 1998 compared with 1994 are thought to be early evidence of significant improvements in water quality derived from major capital investment in the treatment of industrial effluents and sewage wastewater, linked to a combination of stricter legislative controls and the environmental benefits from the adoption of new, clean technologies in manufacturing.     

Quantitative assessment of intertidal blue mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) stocks: combined methods of remote sensing, field investigation and sampling

The aim of this investigation was to develop appropriate methods for quantitative assessment of blue mussel beds. Combined methods of remote sensing, ground truth investigation and sampling in the field were applied to mature and young intertidal mussel beds. Three variables were measured to obtain reliable quantitative estimates of biomass and abundance: the total area covered by a bed; the cover, i.e. the area of mussel-covered patches in relation to the total mussel bed area; and the proportion, i.e. the area covered by mussels within the patches in relation to the total area of mussel patches. Cover and proportion of intertidal blue mussel beds were measured in the field by the transection method. Aerial photographs enabled the total area of the beds to be determined and large-scale surveys of mussel beds to be carried out synchronously. By examining large-scale aerial photographs it was possible also to determine the cover by remote sensing. The proportion could not be derived from aerial photographs, even from pictures at the largest scale tested during this investigation (scale 1:2500). By statistical methods it was estimated that 12 sub-samples (each covering 177 cm²) from mature beds, and 12 sub-samples (each covering 38 cm²) from young beds are needed to obtain reliable data on biomass and abundance.     

用6－甲氨基嘌呤诱导贻贝四倍体胚胎

在滤过海水中以４×１０（－４）ｍｏｌ·Ｌ（－１）６－甲氨基Ｃ嘌呤（６－ＤＭＡＰ）处理贻贝Ｍｙｔｉｌｕｓｅｄｕｌｉｓ受精卵或胚胎，受精激活后５０或１２０ｍｉｎ处理２０—３０ｍｉｎ，分别抑制第一或第二次有丝分裂，以诱导四倍体胚胎。顶荧光显微观察表明，６－ＤＭＡＰ有效地抑制了第一和第二次卵裂。它使细胞核染色质分散，抑制了原核的移动和染色体的分离，并防碍卵裂沟和极叶的形成，从而诱导出四倍体胚胎。对第一次卵裂的抑制产生８２．８％的四倍体胚胎；第二次卵裂抑制产生５８．６％的四倍体胚胎。由于６－ＤＭＡＰ如此有效，而且价格便宜以及对人体无害，与沿用的化学诱导剂细胞松弛素Ｃ．Ｂ．相比，它应该可以成为双壳类软体动物染色体操作研究的理想化学诱导剂之一。     

Consequences of the Sudden Removal of Nearly All Mussels and Cockles from the Dutch Wadden Sea

Abstract. Three successive years of recruitment failure, intensive fishery, and high rates of natural mortality eliminated all intertidal mussel beds and nearly all cockle beds from the Dutch Wadden Sea in the course of 1990. In late 1990 and early 1991, zoobenthic biomass and particularly bivalve stocks were unprecedentedly low. The following unusual events were noted:

• 1)

  Relatively high diatom and chlorophyll concentrations in the autumn of 1990 and an exceptionally early and dense spring bloom of diatoms in March 1991;
• 2)

  Exceptionally early onset of rapid growth in the bivalve Macoma balthica in March 1991;
• 3)

  Above-average weights of the soft parts of bivalves in the 1990/91 winter;
• 4)

  Elevated mortality rates in bivalves that could serve as alternative prey for birds specialised on big bivalves (oystercatchers and eiders);
• 5)

  Signs of food shortage in such birds: high mortality rates and emigration to other feeding areas;
• 6)

  A rapid recovery of the benthos started in the summer of 1991, accelerated by an exceptionally high recruitment in some of the affected species.

It is concluded that the Wadden Sea ecosystem responded in an elastic way to the removal of two of its key species. The events are not seen as merely coincidental but are regarded as a chain of causes and effects.     

Biochemical response of the mussel Mytilus coruscus (Mytiloida: Mytilidae) exposed to in vivo sub-lethal copper concentrations

Many aquatic organisms are negatively affected by exposure to high copper concentrations.We investigated the biochemical response of the mussel Mytilus coruscus(Mytiloida:Mytilidae) to copper exposure.In vivo bioassays using M.coruscus and different copper concentrations were conducted.The activity of six biomarkers,namely superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT),acid phosphatase(ACP),alkaline phosphatase(AKP),glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase(GOT) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase(GPT) were measured.Survival rates decreased with increased copper concentrations and exposure times.The LC50 values at 48,72,and 96 h exposure were 0.48,0.37,and 0.32 mg/L,respectively.Within digestive glands,CAT activity increased with increasing Cu concentrations.The activity of AKP showed no significant change,while the remaining four enzymes showed decreasing activity with increasing Cu concentrations.Within the gills,AKP activity increased when the Cu concentration was 0.05 mg/L,but showed no significant changes at higher concentrations.Activity of CAT and ACP within gills tended to decrease with increasing Cu concentration.The activity of SOD and GPT decreased at an exposure concentration of 0.2 mg/L.GOT activity within gills decreased at 0.1 mg/L and increased at an exposure concentration of 0.2 mg/L.Within the adductor muscle,AKP activity increased at 0.05 mg/L but did not change at higher exposure concentrations.ACP activity within adductor muscle tissue showed no change,while activities of CAT,GOT and GPT decreased with increasing Cu concentrations.SOD activity within the adductor muscle tissue significantly decreased at the 0.02,0.05 and 0.2 mg/L exposure concentrations.Our results show tissue specific differences for the six biomarkers in for M.coruscus.Our findings provide the basis for the establishment of reference activity levels against which biomarker changes can be estimated,and are essential preliminary steps in development of in vivo bioassays.