Sensitivity to oil dispersants: Effects on the valve movements of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis and the giant scallop Placopecten magellanicus, in sub-arctic conditions

Durier, Guillaume; Nadalini, Jean-Bruno; Saint-Louis, Richard; Genard, Bertrand; Comeau, Luc A.; Tremblay, Réjean

doi:10.1016/j.aquatox.2021.105797

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Valvometric data could help quantify how the behavior of these animals influences or is influenced by those observed physiological differences, which in turn could be used to create valvometric metrics for giant clam stress, which are threatened by climate change, overharvesting and habitat destruction [ 53 ]. Valvometric data has already proven useful to understand the response of bivalves to ocean acidification [ 14 ] and oil spills [ 54 – 56 ], as well as the impact of their ecological niche on feeding behavior [ 3 , 4 ]. For example, Tridacna derasa has previously been described as adapted to more ocean-influenced reef conditions where turbidity is low, as opposed to T .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Giant clams as open-source, scalable reef environmental biomonitors

et al. 2023

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Valvometry, the electronic measurement of bivalve shell opening and closing, has been demonstrated to be a valuable biomonitoring technique in previous ecological and environmental studies. Valvometric data has been shown to relate significantly to pollution, predation, animal stress and feeding activity. However, there is a need for valvometric techniques applicable to coral reef environments, which may provide critical insights into reef resilience to ocean warming and acidification. Giant clams are endemic to coral reefs and hold great promise as valvometric recorders of light availability, productivity and other environmental variables. Despite this promise, prior valvometric work on giant clams has been limited by specialized hardware less accessible to developing countries where many coral reefs are found. Here we report on an open-source approach that uses off-the-shelf components to monitor smooth giant clam (Tridacna derasa) valve opening behavior, and tests this approach in the simulated reef environment of the Biosphere 2 Ocean. Valvometric data corroborates the influence of light availability on diurnal behavior of giant clams. The clams basked during daylight hours to expose their photosymbionts to light, and adopted a partially-closed defensive posture at night. The animals showed variations in the frequency of complete closures, with most occurring during night-time hours when the animals prioritize filter-feeding activity, clapping their valves to expel pseudofeces from their gills. Closure frequency showed a significant relation to pH and a significant lagged relationship to chlorophyll-a productivity, which are both a function of algal productivity in the Biosphere 2 Ocean tank. These results suggest that the animals fed on phytoplankton following periodic bloom events in the Biosphere 2 Ocean during the experiment. We propose that giant clams exhibit behavioral plasticity between individuals and populations, and advocate for the more widespread use of valvometry to enable comparative studies of reef environment and animal health.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Giant clams as open-source, scalable reef environmental biomonitors

et al. 2023

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“…On the other hand, different Cr content between species was observed, with higher metal accumulation in R. decussatus compared to R. philippinarum . Bivalves stay isolated from the environment by maintaining their valves closed, which reduces their filtration and thus prevents accumulation of pollutants in their tissues [ 57 ]. A decrease in filtration capacity is related to an energy-saving mechanism, associated with shell closure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Carbon Nanoparticles and Chromium Combined Exposure in Native (Ruditapes decussatus) and Invasive (Ruditapes philippinarum) Clams

et al. 2023

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Studies have described the occurrence of nanoparticles (NPs) in aquatic ecosystems, with particular attention to the widely commercialized carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Their presence in the environment raises concerns, especially regarding their toxicity when co-occurring with other pollutants such as metals. In the present study, changes to the metabolic capacity, oxidative, and neurologic status were evaluated in the presence of carboxylated multi-walled CNTs and chromium (Cr(III)) using two of the most ecologically and economically relevant filter feeder organisms: the clam species Ruditapes decussatus and R. philippinarum. Results indicated that although Cr, either alone or in combination with CNTs, was found in a similar concentration level in both species, a species-specific Cr accumulation was observed, with higher values in R. decussatus in comparison with R. philippinarum. Inhibition of antioxidant defenses and neurotoxic effects were detected only in R. philippinarum. The interaction between contaminants seems to have no effect in terms of antioxidant enzyme activities and neuro status. Nevertheless, synergistic activation of responses to both contaminants may have altered the metabolic capacity of bivalves, particularly evident in R. decussatus. While both clams are tolerant to both contaminants (alone and together), they showed a relevant accumulation capacity, which may represent a possible contaminant transfer to humans.

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“…Changes in mussels' gaping behaviour indicates a real impact of the algae A. catenella that is observable by monitoring valvometry. In the context of stressful conditions as chemical toxin or predator presence, mussels close their valves to be isolated from the external environment (Rajagopal et al, 1997;Clements et al, 2021;Durier et al, 2021). As such, a decrease in average valve opening amplitude and an increase in total closure duration and the number of closures, should be anticipated under stressful conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The valvometry have a good sensibility to detect PST with the paralysis induced. However, the valvometry can detect others stress like synthetic substances occasioning valves closures (Durier et al, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of valvometry as an alert tool to signal the presence of toxic algae Alexandrium catenella by Mytilus edulis

et al. 2022

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Valvometry is a non-invasive technique used to continuously monitor gaping behaviour of bivalves at high frequency. In previous laboratory studies, valvometry has revealed a behavioural sensitivity of bivalves to the presence of toxic microalgae in seawater. However, the application of valvometry as an early-warning system for detecting natural occurrences of toxic microalgae and their resulting toxicity in bivalves remains largely unexplored. In this study, valvometry was used to characterise changes in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) gaping behaviour during gradual exposure to the toxic dinoflagellate, Alexandrium catenella, which produces paralytic shellfish toxins (PST). Laboratory experiments were first performed to identify specific gaping behaviour changes and these responses were subsequently validated in natural seawater conditions in a second experiment. Under both laboratory and natural seawater conditions, mussels exposed to A. catenella tended to remain open (yawning) longer than non-exposed mussels. This change in gaping behaviour was observed at PST concentration as low as 30 μg STXeq 100 g–1 of mussel tissue. We suggest that increased opening is likely related to temporary muscular paralysis induced by toxic algae, as this mechanism has been previously reported in other bivalve species. Furthermore, we observed that biological rhythms of valve behaviour related to tidal and daily rhythms were modified when mussels were intoxicated by PSP (Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning). In conclusion, the effects of toxic algae on mussel gaping behaviour reveals that valvometry could be used as an early-warning tool for the presence of toxic Alexandrium sp. in the environment prior to mussels reaching the regulatory threshold (80 μg STXeq 100 g–1) for harvest interdiction.

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Sensitivity to oil dispersants: Effects on the valve movements of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis and the giant scallop Placopecten magellanicus, in sub-arctic conditions

Cited by 11 publications

References 36 publications

Giant clams as open-source, scalable reef environmental biomonitors

Giant clams as open-source, scalable reef environmental biomonitors

Effects of Carbon Nanoparticles and Chromium Combined Exposure in Native (Ruditapes decussatus) and Invasive (Ruditapes philippinarum) Clams

Use of valvometry as an alert tool to signal the presence of toxic algae Alexandrium catenella by Mytilus edulis

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