Dataset of genotoxic and cytotoxic effects on the pygmy mussel, Xenostrobus securis, from the highly urbanised Sydney Estuary, Australia: Relationships with metal bioaccumulation

Scott J Markich

doi:10.1016/j.dib.2020.105460

Abstract

This article contains a dataset of the genotoxic (DNA damage, via the micronucleus frequency test) and cytotoxic (lysosomal membrane stability (cellular integrity), via the neutral red retention test) effects on the pygmy mussel, Xenostrobus securis (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) from variably contaminated sites (primarily from cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn)) in the highly urbanized Sydney Estuary, south-eastern Australia. Data were collected 15 years apart (June 2004 and June 2019) to assess any change in (i) the “health” of mussels (based on the above two toxicity endpoints) and (ii) their metal contaminant status (measured as whole soft tissue concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn). Linear relationships between both toxicity endpoints and metal concentrations in the whole soft tissue were also investigated. Multivariate statistical techniques, including principal components analysis, multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis, were also explored to reduce dimensional data, investigate patterns and assess similarities among study sites with respect to tissue metal concentrations and toxicity effects in X. securis. Enrichment factors were calculated by dividing the mean whole soft tissue metal concentration at each site in the Sydney Estuary, by its mean baseline metal concentration from near-pristine (reference) sites in the adjacent Hawkesbury Estuary. Salinity, pH, temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a were measured in the surface waters at each site

Highlights

Dataset of genotoxic and cytotoxic effects on the pygmy mussel, Xenostrobus securis, from the highly urbanised Sydney Estuary, Australia: Relationships with metal bioaccumulation
This article contains a dataset of the genotoxic (DNA damage, via the micronucleus frequency test) and cytotoxic (lysosomal membrane stability, via the neutral red retention test) effects on the pygmy mussel, Xenostrobus securis (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) from variably contaminated sites (primarily from cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn)) in the highly urbanized Sydney Estuary, south-eastern Australia
Haemocyte cells were fixed with 100% methanol, stained with 5% Giesma solution and mounted with Eukitt

Summary

Data description

Inverse linear relationships between %LMS and ‰MF in the haemocytes of X. securis from the Sydney and Hawkesbury estuaries, for two sampling events (2004 and 2019), are presented in Fig. 4 (raw data are given in Appendix A; Tables S1 and S2). The mean enrichment factors (see Section 2.7 for definition) of Cd, Cr, Cu. Pb and Zn in the whole soft tissue of X. securis from variably contaminated sites in the Sydney Estuary, are presented in Fig. 5 (raw data are given in Appendix A; Table S6). X. securis, a synonym of Limnoperna securis and L. fortunei kikuchii, is endemic to the intertidal zone of estuaries and coastal lagoons of southern Australia (range 22°10 −43°28 S) and New Zealand, but has been introduced to southeast Asia (Japan, China, South Korea) and southern Europe (France, Italy, Slovenia, Spain) in the last three decades (and considered a problematic invasive species)

Mussel sampling and preparation

Soft tissue metal concentrations

Surface water physico-chemistry

Findings

Data analyses