Article
Fisheries
Heloise Gendre, Yosra Ben Cheikh, Frank Le Foll, Alain Geffard, Melissa Palos Ladeiro
Summary: This study compared the sensitivity of cellular immunomarkers to chemical stressors combined with bacterial challenge in two mussel species from different environments. The results showed that the two mussel species had different basal levels and responded differently to chemical exposure and bacterial challenge. This work highlights the species-specific sensitivity of mussel immunomarkers to contaminants and the necessity of considering the presence of non-pathogenic microorganisms in future in situ applications.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rihab Jaouani, Coraline Roman, Justine Decaix, Fabienne Lagarde, Amelie Chatel
Summary: The effects of aging microplastics (MPs) made of polyethylene (PE) were investigated in the marine mussel Mytilus edulis, which is commonly used as a bioindicator, through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Gene expression levels related to detoxification, immune system, cytoskeleton, and cell cycle control were evaluated using quantitative RT-qPCR. The study found differential expression levels depending on the state of plastic degradation (aged vs non-aged) and method of exposure (in vitro vs in vivo). The study highlights the usefulness of molecular biomarkers based on gene expression analysis in an ecotoxicological context, providing indication of relative slight changes compared to other biochemical approaches. In addition, in vitro analysis can generate a large amount of data on the toxicological effects of MPs.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Efflam Guillou, Carole Cyr, Nicolas Toupoint, Rejean Tremblay
Summary: Bivalve aquaculture in nearshore sites has expanded worldwide. Mussel farming productivity is commonly assumed to depend on survival and growth performance, which can be highly variable among spat stocks originating from different sites, even at a microgeographical scale. Offshore conditions clearly enhanced overall growth performance independently of stock origin, as shown by the higher condition indexes, higher energy lipids (triacylglycerol), and generally higher glycogen content in mussels at the end of the production cycle. The observed survival (+23%) and growth (+27%) trends support the hypothesis that offshore cultivation represents a valuable strategy for mussel aquaculture development.
AQUACULTURE REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Matthew Bennion, Liam Morrison, Roseanne Shelley, Conor Graham
Summary: The global reliance on seafood as a source of animal protein is increasing, with a shift towards farmed produce over wild caught due to various factors. Despite rising production, factors like disease outbreaks, toxic algae blooms, pollution, and food fraud continue to pose risks to the market, highlighting the need for accurate traceability tools for regulators to ensure consumer safety and trust. Techniques like trace element fingerprinting show promise in identifying the location and date of harvest of bivalve shellfish, providing a reliable scientific-based tool for seafood regulators to maintain food safety standards.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Ran Xin, Lixin Ma, Rong Liu, Xuhui Huang, Baoshang Fu, Xiuping Dong, Lei Qin
Summary: Lipid oxidation and the Maillard reaction are two important reactions that affect the flavor of heat-processed foods. This study investigates the effect of polar and nonpolar lipids on the flavor of mussel Maillard reaction products (MRPs) using sensory evaluation, electronic tongue, electronic nose, UPLC-MS, and GC-MS. The results show that polar lipid MRPs have the highest scores in sensory evaluation. Flavor compounds detected in the MRPs include inorganic sulfides, organic sulfides, and nitrogen oxides. GC-MS detects aldehydes, alcohols, and ketones, while UPLC-MS detects non-volatile compounds such as amino acids and oligopeptides. The study provides a theoretical basis and technical support for the production of mussel MRPs.
Article
Engineering, Marine
Valentina Vladimirovna Slobodskova, Victor Pavlovich Chelomin, Sergey Petrovich Kukla, Andrey Alexandrovich Mazur
Summary: The pollution of coastal water areas by heavy metals is an increasing problem. This study focused on investigating the impact of copper (Cu2+) accumulation and tissue depuration on genome integrity and DNA repair ability in the gill cells of Mytilus trossulus. While the biochemical detoxification system was functional, destructive processes such as the accumulation of lipid peroxidation products (MDA) and DNA damage were observed. However, in the process of depuration from Cu2+, the levels of DNA damage and MDA content were significantly reduced, albeit at a slower rate.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qiao Li, Fang Zhang, Song Sun
Summary: This study investigates the response of the blue mussel to sustained hypoxia. The experiment finds that the survival rate of mussels is closely related to dissolved oxygen levels, with a critical threshold of approximately 0.7-0.8 mg L-1. When combined with DO fluctuations or poor water quality, the threshold rises to an average of DO 1.0 mg L-1.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christian Selbach, Loic Marchant, Kim N. Mouritsen
Summary: Fear plays a crucial role in predator-prey interactions and can have cascading impacts on ecosystems. Recent research has shown that hosts and parasites can also exhibit fear effects, but empirical examples are lacking. This study tests whether bivalves can "learn to fear" the infective transmission stages of a parasite and if experienced mussels change their behavior accordingly. The results indicate that previous parasite experiences lead to reduced filtration activity in the presence of the parasite, resulting in lower infection rates.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Dongdong Wang, Nelia Mbewe, Lobke De Bels, Liesbeth Couck, Gilbert Van Stappen, Wim Van den Broeck, Nancy Nevejan
Summary: By tagging pathogenic Vibrio strains with green fluorescence protein, a new pathogenesis of vibriosis in bivalve larvae was identified. The pathogens entered the larval digestive organs rapidly, inducing necrosis and eventually leading to larval death. This study lays a foundation for further research on gastrointestinal morphology after anti-Vibrio therapy introduction in aquaculture.
Article
Ecology
Ralph J. M. Temmink, Gregory S. Fivash, Laura L. Govers, Janne Nauta, Beatriz Marin-Diaz, Peter M. J. M. Cruijsen, Karin Didderen, Emma Penning, Han Olff, Jannes H. T. Heusinkveld, Leon P. M. Lamers, Wouter Lengkeek, Marjolijn J. A. Christianen, Valerie C. Reijers, Tjeerd J. Bouma, Tjisse van der Heide
Summary: Coastal ecosystems worldwide are degrading rapidly, prompting a new life cycle informed restoration approach to be tested on a large scale using blue mussel reefs as a model. Results showed that temporary use of biodegradable structures successfully enhanced mussel biomass formation, but technical challenges were encountered at larger scales, emphasizing the need for testing under extreme conditions before upscaling.
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Helene Bouras, Yann Quesnelle, Alix Barozet, Didier Goux, Jean-Louis Blin, Manuel Savary, Celine Zatylny-Gaudin, Maryline Houssin
Summary: Mass mortality events of blue mussels Mytilus edulis in France since 2014 have been caused by the bacterium Francisella halioticida, with DNA of this pathogen recently detected in mussels from affected areas. Different strains of F. halioticida were identified through genetic sequencing and analysis. One particular strain, FR21, showed distinct differences from other published strains and was found to be non-virulent towards adult mussels.
JOURNAL OF INVERTEBRATE PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Coraline Roman, Pauline Mahe, Oihana Latchere, Charlotte Catrouillet, Julien Gigault, Isabelle Metais, Amelie Chatel
Summary: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of plastic particles found in the environment on marine mussels. The study found that different immune and cytotoxicity responses were observed after exposure to plastic particles in vivo and in vitro. This suggests that in vitro studies may serve as predictors of in vivo exposure effects.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY C-TOXICOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Laura Steeves, Antonio Aguera, Ramon Filgueira, Oivind Strand, Tore Strohmeier
Summary: The purpose of this study was to determine if the blue mussel Mytilus edulis can maintain constant ingestion rates by changing feeding rates in response to fluctuations in natural diets. The results showed significant individual variability in pumping rates and no correlation between pumping rate and food availability. However, population-level ingestion rates increased with increasing food availability.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Giuseppe De Marco, Maria Concetta Eliso, Gea Oliveri Conti, Mariachiara Galati, Barbara Bille, Maria Maisano, Margherita Ferrante, Tiziana Cappello
Summary: This study evaluates the uptake and cellular effects of red polystyrene microplastics (MPs) in the gills of Mediterranean mussels. The results show that MP exposure leads to changes in amino acid and energy metabolism, disturbances in osmoregulatory processes, and cholinergic neurotransmission, as well as impairments in oxidative defense systems and lipid metabolism. These findings provide insights into the early time-dependent mechanisms of toxicity of polystyrene MPs in marine mussels and highlight the potential risks posed by MPs contamination to the environment and human health.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yongshun Jiang, You Wang, Tianli Sun, Keyu Lu, Xinyu Zhao, Zhipeng Zhang, Mengchen Lv, Chunchen Liu, Bin Zhou
Summary: The study revealed the relationship between assimilation, allocation, and consumption of energy in blue mussel Mytilus edulis coping with tetrabromodiphenyl ether, and the impact of this energy alteration on physiological processes. Results showed that exposure to tetrabromodiphenyl ether reduced energy absorption, increased energy consumption, and affected energy allocation and metabolism. The mussel adopted different energy strategies in response to stress, with significant effects on growth and survival.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emily Curren, Sandric Chee Yew Leong
Summary: Microplastics in marine ecosystems serve as microhabitats for diverse toxic plankton species, including viable resting cysts of dinoflagellates. The diversity of plankton communities on the plastisphere is influenced by anthropogenic factors. This study highlights the importance of plastics as vectors for the transport of harmful opportunistic species in the marine environment.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vladimir G. Dvoretsky, Alexander G. Dvoretsky
Summary: The Barents Sea, as the largest Arctic shelf region, plays a vital role in supporting commercial fisheries. The ecosystem of this region is significantly influenced by both warm Atlantic Water (AW) and cold Arctic Water (ARW), resulting in distinct frontal zones. This study found that copepod populations, particularly herbivorous copepods, were most abundant and productive in the Polar Front, as well as in the eastern frontal zones. The geographic positions of sampling stations, depth, and chlorophyll a concentration were identified as the main factors influencing copepod biomass and production.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alberto Rovellini, Charlotte L. Mortimer, Matthew R. Dunn, Elizabeth A. Fulton, Jamaluddin Jompa, Abdul Haris, James J. Bell
Summary: This study compared the structural complexity of coral- and sponge-dominated areas of an Indonesian coral reef using 3D photogrammetry. The results showed that smaller-scale refugia were reduced in sponge-dominated reefs, potentially impacting smaller reef fauna.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
