Mytilus Galloprovincialis Lamarck Research Articles

Studies on the Spat Recruitment and Age Structure in the Population of the Mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis LAMARCK, with Special Reference to the Cause of the Extinction of Population

Studies on the Spat Recruitment and Age Structure in the Population of the Mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis LAMARCK, with Special Reference to the Cause of the Extinction of Population

Adaptation of cultured mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819 from the northern Adriatic Sea to nearby aquaculture sites and translocation

The ability of mussels to cope with environmental conditions depends on the species’ capacity to acclimate or adapt within its morphometric and physiological parameters. In the present study,we investigated the effect of aquaculture site and translocation on different stocks of Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819. We used shell morphological ratios (width/length, height/length and height/width) and allometric relationships (volume-length and shell weight-length) in addition to condition index (wet meat weight/total weight) and mortality to compare cultivated and translocated mussels from the northern Adriatic Sea, Croatia. Mussels were collected from five cultivation areas (Lim, Pomer, Raša, Vabriga and Budava), and then moved for three months to experimental station at marine protected area in Lim Bay. Differences between cultivated mussels suggested morphological plasticity, although translocation weakly affected allometric relationships. Decrease in condition index was pronounced in translocated mussels, indicating adaptation to different local environmental conditions. High post translocation mortality was observed in mussels transferred to the experimental area. Our study shows plastic response of M. galloprovincialis, which can provide a useful information of mussel stocks selection in aquaculture.

Parasites and endobiotic fungi in digestive gland cryosections of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis in the Northern Adriatic, Croatia

Abstract Histology has been used in the past to investigate the effects of diseases and parasite infections in native mussel populations that are often used as sentinel species in coastal environmental monitoring and as stock in mariculture. This paper presents the first study of parasite diversity using cryosections of the Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819 digestive gland. Mussels were sampled across the annual cycle at two sampling sites: St. Andrew and ACI Marina in the Northern Adriatic (Croatia). The protozoan of the genus Nematopsis Schneider, 1892 (Apicomplexa, Gregarina) was detected in digestive tubules, while the turbellarian (Urastomidae) Urastoma cyprinae von Graff, 1913 was found in the connective tissue at the edge of the digestive gland. The filamentous fungus Alternaria sp. (Fungi, Ascomycota) was detected in epithelial cells of the digestive tubule in cryosections. Nematopsis sp. occurred with the prevalence ranging from 20 to 100%, and the intensity of infection in less than 30 oocysts in most of the cases. U. cyprinae was detected in mussels sampled at St. Andrew and had a prevalence of 20% in September. Conidia of Alternaria sp. were found in mussels sampled at St. Andrew in September and November. Cryosections provide a useful and affordable means for monitoring parasites and endobiotic fungi.

Experimental predatory behavior of the stone crab Eriphia verrucosa (Forskål, 1775) (Decapoda, Brachyura, Eriphiidae)

Abstract Predatory behavior of the crab Eriphia verrucosa (Forskal, 1775) on the oyster Magallana angulata (Lamarck, 1819), the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819, the limpet Patella depressa Pennant, 1777, the hermit crab Clibanarius erythropus (Latreille, 1818), the gastropod Phorcus lineatus (da Costa, 1778) and the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) was experimentally studied. Taken into account that the sampled population of E. verrucosa was infected with the parasitic barnacle Sacculina eriphiae Smith, 1906, four predator categories were established regarding crab sex and parasite presence: uninfected and infected males and females, respectively. These four crab categories were fed on the six preys offered, but prey remains suggest that the crab obtains the flesh of each prey using different methods of attack. Irrespective of the prey species, uninfected females consistently presented lower percentages of crab feeding and total consumption. On average, it was found that a significantly higher percentage of crabs feed on M. galloprovincialis, P. depressa and Ph. lineatus than on the other three prey species (chi-squared test, p < 0.05). In terms of mean eaten biomass, the preys most eaten were P. lividus and P. depressa and the least eaten was C. erythropus (ANOVA test, p < 0.05). For crabs feeding on M. galloprovincialis and Ph. lineatus there was a significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) between the predator size and prey size, as well as between the predator size and total prey consumption. According to these results, potential effects of this top predator on intertidal communities are also discussed.

Bioaccessibility of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819) along the southeastern Black Sea coast

ABSTRACTThe adverse effect of seafood consumption on human health is related to the bioaccessibility in contrast with the total heavy metal level in the tissues. In this study, bioaccessibility of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819) edible soft tissues collected along the southern Black Sea coast were investigated using in vitro digestion model. Total Pb concentration in the tissues was found to be higher than the maximum permissible limits set by European Commission. The bioaccessibility of metals in the tissues was found to be decreased in the order: Ni (83.11%) > Cu (80.47%) > Zn (76.86%) > Cd (73.32%) > Mn (69.11%) > Pb (61.07%) > Cr (58.44%). While significant positive linear regression was observed between total and bioaccessible concentrations for Mn, Pb, and Ni, significant negative linear regression was found for Cd (p < .05). The hazard quotients (HQ) calculated using bioaccessible amount were detected lower than the limit (HQ <1), which may not pose a potential hazard to humans reported by US Environmental Protection Agency. In sum, mussel consumption from sampling sites may cause a potential risk concerning human health especially for Cd and Pb in case of increased portion sizes.

Environmental status of the NE Adriatic Sea, Istria, Croatia: Insights from mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis condition indices, stable isotopes and metal(loid)s

The environmental status of the marine environment in the NE Adriatic Sea was assessed, using as a bioindicator species the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819. Samples were collected seasonally from mariculture sites and from major Istrian ports between the years 2010 and 2013. The condition indices of mussels ranged from 13.3 to 20.9% at mariculture sites and from 14.3 to 23.3% at port locations. The seasonally δ13CDIC values of seawater varied between −10.9 to 0.7‰. Pollution by sewage sludge (based on δ15N values) was confirmed only in two ports. Tissue concentrations of Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Cd, and Pb were significantly higher in the tissue of the mussels collected from the ports (polluted sites). Arsenobetaine was the major As compound present in the samples and there was no significant difference in the levels of total As in mussel tissues from mariculture and port sites.

Interactive effects of nutrition, reproductive state and pollution on molecular stress responses of mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819

Marine bivalves including mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis are commonly used as sentinels for pollution monitoring and ecosystem health assessment in the coastal zones. Use of biomarkers to assess the pollution effects assumes that the effects of pollutants on the biomarkers exceed the natural background variability; yet this assumption has rarely been tested. We exposed mussels at different reproductive stages and nutritive states to two concentrations of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (fluoranthene, 3 and 60 μg L−1) for three weeks. Expression levels of the molecular biomarkers related to the detoxification and general stress response [cytochrome P450 oxidase (CYP450), glutathione S-transferases (GST-α; GST-S1; GST-S2), the multixenobiotic resistance protein P-glycoprotein (PgP), metallothioneins (MT10 and MT20), heat shock proteins (HSP22, HSP70-2; HSP70-3; HSP70-4), as well as mRNA expression of two reproduction-related genes, vitellogenin (Vitel) and vitelline coat lysin M7 (VCLM7)] were measured. The mussels’ nutrition and reproductive state affected the baseline mRNA levels of molecular biomarkers and modulated the transcriptional responses of biomarker genes to the pollutant exposure. Thus, mussel physiological state could act as a confounding factor in the evaluation of the response of pollution through molecular biomarkers. The biomarker baseline levels must be determined across a range of physiological states to enable the use of biomarkers in monitoring programs.

Effect of exposure time, particle size and uptake pathways in immune cell lysosomal cytotoxicity of mussels exposed to silver nanoparticles

Cytotoxicity evaluation of hemocytes (lysosomal membrane stability [LMS] assay) from Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, exposed to a sublethal dose (100 μg/L) of two size of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs: <50 nm and <100 nm) – prior to and after inhibition of potential uptake pathways (i.e., clathrin- and caveolae-mediated endocytosis) within different times of exposure (3, 6, 12 h) – showed that there was a significant cytotoxic effect on immune cells of mussels exposed for different times to either AgNP size (p < 0.01); the greater effect was with the smaller size. However, hemocytes seemed more sensitive to the larger AgNP after clathrin-mediated endocytosis was blocked (p < 0.01); this was not so with inhibition of caveolae-mediated endocytosis. Dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO) did not impart a carrier-mediated effect despite an enhanced cytotoxicity when DMSO was present with AgNP. From these results, it is concluded that the immunotoxicity of AgNP in mussels was size-dependent as well as length of exposure-dependent. It was also clear that nanoparticles (NP) internalization mechanisms were a major factor underlying any toxicity.

Biomarkers of metabolism disturbance in bivalve molluscs induced by environmental pollution with processed by-products of oil

Processed by-products of oil are the most common pollutants in all river and sea water. The increase in oxidative stress in bivalve molluscs was studied in both tissues of the hepatopancreas and the gill. The model for artificial treatment with processed by-products of oil was performed in a laboratory experiment with the river mollusc Dreissena polymorpha Pallas, 1771. The exposure of the molluscs over 28 days to mazut 50 mg/l induced significant increase of both final product of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and antioxidant enzime activity. A significant increase in LPO was observed in the hepatopancreas and gill of D. polymorpha treated with mazut compared to the control group. Antioxidant enzyme activity of cartalase, supeoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase showed a greater increase (by almost 1.5 times) in the hepatopancreas than in the gill of D. polymorpha . A similar LPO growth and modulation of antioxidant enzyme activity were determined in the hepatopancreas and gill of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1879 collected in an area polluted with resins, hydrocarbons and asphaltenes, Donuzlav lake in the Kerch gulf. Varied cellular reactivation of the antioxidant enzyme system in the hepatopancreas rather than the gill was observed in both kinds of mollusc Dreissena and Mytilus . The obtained results are evidence of the higher sensitivity of the hepatopancreas cells of bivalve molluscs to organic pollutants compared to the gill cells.

Effects of the Depuration Process on Microbiological Quality and Nutritional Composition of Mediterranean Mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819)

ABSTRACTIn this study, the effects of the depuration period on Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis L., 1819), collected from Bandırma Harbor Area by the Sea of Marmara, were investigated. Distinctive changes were found to exist in the percentage of moisture, protein, fat, and ash content. The process of depuration was determined to have an effect on the number of total aerobic mesophilic/psychrophilic bacteria. Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio cholera, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus could not be identified during the study. The substances of aluminum, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, nickel, cadmium, chromium, lead, and potassium were determined to decrease in the Mediterranean mussel from the baseline to the end of the depuration. It was found that the process of depuration has a positive effect on alanine, phenylalanine, lysine, tyrosine, valine, leucine, and isoleucine; a negative effect on aspartic acid, glutamic acid, threonine, proline, and arginine and no effect on methionine, histidine, glycine, and serine. The total saturated fatty acids, total monounsaturated fatty acids, and total polyunsaturated fatty acids at the end of depuration were found to be 29.29%, 12.51%, and 45.57%, respectively, and the change in the amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids was found to be significant (p < 0.05).

The interaction between algal viruses and the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819 (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) in experiments

The utilization (possible assimilation and concentration in organs) of 99% of algal viruses from the water by the Black Sea mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis was confirmed experimentally. This index depends on the duration of the experiment, the complexity of the morphology of the virus, the age (size) of the mussels, and the presence of a nonindicatory microalga, which allows the experimental conditions to be close to natural and is conducive to the agglutination of viruses in pseudofeces and their enhanced utilization by mussels. It was found that some algal viruses concentrated by filter-feeding mussels return to the environment in the feces and are transported to the bottom (where they can be used by benthivores) or diffuse back into the pelagic zone. The results indicate that mussels have a role in the circulation of marine viruses, utilizing and transferring them from the pelagic to the benthic biotope.

The Mass-Dimension Relationships in the Mussels Mytilus Galloprovincialis (Mollusca, Bivalvia) from Different Phenotypical Groups in Periphyton Populations near Odessa Coast, the North-Western Part of Black Sea

Abstract The data of the size-mass indices in the mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lamarck, 1819) from three phenotypic groups - brown, dark violet (black) and “zebra” (brown with radial black stripes) shells in the periphyton settlements on the concrete traverses near Odessa coast, the North-western part of Black Sea (Ukraine), in March-November 2014-2015 are presented. A comparative evaluation has been made on the relationships of total mass of the mollusks, wet and dry mass of their soft body and mass of the shells on the one hand, and the size of animals (length of its shells) on the other hand, in the each of phenotypical groups from the five marine beach areas. It is shown, that in the marine areas with different degrees of isolation from the open sea by coast-protection engineering constructions, the mussels from different phenotypes have almost the same size-mass characteristics. Only the dry weight of soft animal body, which indicated to fatness of mollusk and therefore demonstrated his biological prosperity in specific hydrological conditions, can serve as a reliable criterion which can mark the shellfish habitats with different gradients of environmental factors.

Mytilus Galloprovincialis - a Valuable Resource of the Black Sea Ecosystem

The Bivalvia family has been traced back to the beginning of the Paleosoic Era (The Devonian age) and have survived to this day, with very small changes. While more common in the Mediterranean, the Black Sea has been penetrated by representatives of the family, most frequently along the coastal area. Representatives of the Mytilus genus, mussels are very common in the seas and oceans of the world. Mytilus Galloprovincialis Lamarck has long been considered as being only a variety of Mytilus edulis Linne. Anatomical studies have shown that there are sufficient differences in order to accurately distinguish the two species. This paper presents a characterization of the Mytilus galloprovincialis mussel, which is a valuable resource existing in the Black Sea ecosystem.

Mytilus Galloprovincialis - a Valuable Resource of the Black Sea Ecosystem

The Bivalvia family has been traced back to the beginning of the Paleosoic Era (The Devonian age) and have survived to this day, with very small changes. While more common in the Mediterranean, the Black Sea has been penetrated by representatives of the family, most frequently along the coastal area. Representatives of the Mytilus genus, mussels are very common in the seas and oceans of the world. Mytilus Galloprovincialis Lamarck has long been considered as being only a variety of Mytilus edulis Linne. Anatomical studies have shown that there are sufficient differences in order to accurately distinguish the two species. This paper presents a characterization of the Mytilus galloprovincialis mussel, which is a valuable resource existing in the Black Sea ecosystem.

A non-lethal method for establishing sexual maturation in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lamarck, 1819)) during broodstock conditioning in hatcheries

The concentration of the sex steroids 17β-estradiol, testosterone and progesterone was determined by specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in the hemolymph of the mussel Mytilusgalloprovincialis and related to its sexual maturation. A non-lethal hemolymph sampling procedure was used in mussels matured in controlled conditions of a hatchery. To our knowledge, this is the first study on sexual steroid hormones of a bivalve species using the same specimens in consecutive samplings. Histological data showed that nearly 90 % of the mussels ripened during the experiment. Steroid analyses revealed that 17β-estradiol and testosterone were closely related to the onset of gamete development, while progesterone would have an important role at the end of gonadal maturity. This method can be used to assess sexual maturation in bivalves when conditioning in hatcheries, without killing them.

Assessment of recent and chalcolithic period environmental pollution using Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819 from Yarimburgaz Cave, the northern Marmara Sea and Bosphorus coasts

Summary Marine or freshwater mussel species are found in large quantities around populated areas and accumulate metals in aquatic systems. Therefore, these organisms are used to monitor environmental pollution. Mytilus galloprovincialis is a generally accepted bioindicator of metal pollution and is used in this study. The aim of this study is to determine the changes in the environmental conditions since antiquity. M. galloprovincialis shells were used to monitor Chalcolithic pollution levels in Yarimburgaz Cave, one of the oldest settlements in Europe. Recent samples were collected from 12 stations on the coasts of the Northern Marmara Sea and the Bosphorus between May–September 2004. The environmental pollution substantially changed over the last 7500 years. The comparison of the geochemical characteristics of the environmental pollution observed in the Chalcolithic period and today revealed that pollution from both household and industrial chemicals has increased in Istanbul.

Morphology and molecular analysis of life-cycle stages of Proctoeces maculatus (Looss, 1901) (Digenea: Fellodistomidae) in the Bizerte Lagoon, Tunisia.

The life cycle of Proctoeces maculatus (Looss, 1901) (Digenea, Fellodistomidae) was studied in Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia). Three sequential hosts appear to be involved: the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819 (Mytilidae) as the first intermediate host; the polychaete Sabella pavonina Savigny, 1822 (Sabellidae), as the second intermediate host; and fishes (Lithognathus mormyrus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Sparidae), Trachinotus ovatus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Carangidae) and Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758 (Sparidae) as the definitive hosts. It should be noted that S. pavonina was recorded as second intermediate host for P. maculatus for the first time. Molecular confirmation of the morphological identification of the life-cycle stages of this digenean was obtained using partial 28S rDNA sequences. Comparative sequences revealed that the sporocysts and the metacercariae are conspecific but they diverged by 0.3% from the adults. The present results raised the possibility of the existence of cryptic species within the different developmental stages. However, all the present isolates differed from material from Archosargus probatocephalus in the Gulf of Mexico identified as P. maculatus.

Ecological interactions modulate responses of two intertidal mussel species to changes in temperature and pH

Predicted climate change scenarios for the end of this century suggest a substantial warming and ocean acidification of sea surface waters. Physiological performance of marine coastal organisms will be affected leading to changes in whole communities. In particular, ocean acidification poses an important threat for shelled molluscs. Nevertheless, climate change impacts are species-specific and responses may even differ among species that play a similar role in the ecosystems. Currently, two mussel species, the native Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck 1819 and the non-indigenous Xenostrobus securis Lamarck 1819, share the same habitat along shores in the inner part of the Galician Rias Baixas (NW Spain) forming mixed patchy clumps. Here, we used an experimental approach in mesocosms to evaluate the effects of increasing temperature and acidification on mussel clumps of different composition (monospecific and mixed clumps). Our model systems were artificially constructed clumps resembling those found on rocky shores. Responses to environmental stressors were measured on several functioning variables at the individual (i.e. survivorship, growth, condition index and composition of shell) and clump level (i.e. respiration, ammonia and phosphate excretion rates). The decrease of pH had a lethal effect and reduced growth on the native mussels. The invader was more resilient although individual responses were very often shaped by the composition of the clump. The reduced pH and, especially the high temperature conditions, tended to cause an increase in respiration rates of all types of clumps. Interactions between the two species seemed to modulate many effects at both individual and clump levels highlighting the complexity of responses when considering multiple stressors.

The Fatty Acid Composition of Cultured Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck 1819) in Offshore Longline System in the Black Sea

The fatty acid (FA) composition was determined in the mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck 1819) cultured at the longline system located in Sinop (Black Sea) from October to September. Seasonal variation of lipid was significantly different throughout the study period; the highest value was in winter (1.90±0.10% wet weight) and the lowest value in spring (1.45±0.22%) (p<0.05). The polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were dominant lipids in spring and winter including 55.80% and 55.63% of total lipids, respectively, while PUFAs in the summer and autumn were considerably higher than values in spring and winter, comprising 52.97% and 50.67% of total lipids, respectively. The palmitic acid (PA, 16:0) saturated fatty acids (SFAs), 11-eicosenoic acid (EA, 20:1n-9) mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6 n-3) PUFAs were the most dominant fatty acids of all. The results showed that all fatty acids were the PUFAs with the highest percentage. Within this group, the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5 n-3) and DHA fatty acids presented the highest levels. Also, the lowest and the highest n-3/n-6 ratio were in autumn (1.44%) and winter (2.23%), respectively. These results suggest that spring was the more suitable period for collecting mussels and for healthy diet of humans.

Two novel multidrug resistance associated protein (MRP/ABCC) from the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis): characterization and expression patterns in detoxifying tissues

Multidrug resistance associated proteins (MRP) belong to the ABCC branch of the ABC transporters. The MRP together with P-gp (P-glycoprotein; MDR1; ABCB1) and BCRP (breast cancer resistance protein; ABCG2) confer multixenobiotic resistance (MXR) in marine vertebrates. In aquatic invertebrates, little is known about the presence and role of these ABC transporters. The ABC transporters play an important role in the absorption, distribution, and excretion of drugs, xenobiotics, and endogenous compounds and are predominantly expressed in excretory organs. In the present study, we identified and characterized two MRP/ABCC transporters (mrp1 and mrp2) from the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819). The two cDNAs finally obtained were 4648 bp for mrp1 and 5065 bp for mrp2 with open reading frames of 1500 and 1524 residues, respectively. Analysis of the amino acid sequences revealed the structural organization of ABC transporters with the typical and highly conserved motifs. The expression levels of these genes revealed that the highest expression of mrp1 and mrp2 genes was found in the digestive gland followed by gills, and the lowest expression of the three tissues was detected in the mantle. The expression of these genes was also studied in mussels naturally contaminated with okadaic acid (from a bloom of Dinophysis acuminata Claparède and Lachmann, 1859). The overexpression of mrp2 in the digestive gland suggests that this gene is involved in the process of detoxification of okadaic acid in M. galloprovincilais. These expression patterns agree with the suggested role of these genes in the protection against endogenous or exogenous compounds in aquatic organisms.