Article
Ecology
Sidali Kourdali, Kamel Boudjema, Abdellah Meknachi, Nabila Bounakous, Bassem Jaouadi, Sondes Mechri, Abdelmalek Badis
Summary: The present research aims to evaluate the variation of several responses in marine mussels exposed to different sub-lethal concentrations of copper and lead. The results showed that temperature and salinity variations were not significant enough to interfere with the effect of the pollutants. Changes in nitrogen and phosphorus mineral matter were found to be a physiological disturbance in both species. During the contamination cycles, catalase induction and protein depletion reflected the oxidative stress caused by the metals. However, the catalase activity returned to normal state during the decontamination cycles.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Ane del Rio Lavin, Natalia Diaz-Arce, Maria Angelica Larrain, Cristian Araneda, Naiara Rodriguez-Ezpeleta, Elisa Jimenez, Miguel Angel Pardo
Summary: Seafood traceability is important for regulators and fishing industries to prevent fraud and ensure consumer safety. This study used genetic markers to trace the genetic structure of Mediterranean mussel and assess the ability of new markers to trace the origin of samples. The results showed clear differentiation between populations from different regions and suggested the potential for developing an accurate and cost-effective traceability tool.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kenan Gedik, Serkan Koral
Summary: This study investigated the spatial distribution of total mercury (HgT) and methylmercury (MeHg) in Mediterranean mussels along the coasts of Turkiye's Black Sea, the Marmara, and Aegean Sea. The results showed a significant positive correlation between HgT and MeHg. The weekly intake of MeHg was found to be below the limits set by the FAO/WHO Joint Committee of Experts on Food Additives for both pediatric and adult consumers. The excessive consumption of mussels from areas with high MeHg concentrations posed a risk only for pediatric consumers.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gabriela Castro, Amarein J. Fourie, Danica Marlin, Vishwesh Venkatraman, Susana Gonzalez, Alexandros G. Asimakopoulos
Summary: This study assessed the occurrence of bisphenols and benzophenone UV filters in wild brown mussels collected from the coast of Algoa Bay, South Africa. The results showed that these contaminants were present in the mussels, with bisphenol AP (BPAP) having the highest concentration and benzophenone-1 (BzP-1) and benzophenone-3 (BzP-3) also present at relatively high concentrations. Human exposure was evaluated through mussel consumption.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Irrintzi Ibarrola, Kristina Arranz, Pablo Markaide, Enrique Navarro
Summary: The study investigates the relationship between growth rate and metabolic rate in individual mussels, with a focus on the impact of growth on size scaling relationships. The results reveal that differential costs of feeding and digestion structures contribute to an increase in standard metabolic rate (SMR) for fast growers. When accounting for the metabolic effects of growth, the scaling exponent indicates surface dependent processes. These findings provide insights into the metabolic variations and size scaling in bivalve molluscs.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Nagore Gonzalez-Soto, Nagore Blasco, Mireia Irazola, Eider Bilbao, Lucia Guilhermino, Miren P. Cajaraville
Summary: Graphene oxide (GO) is gaining attention for its unique properties and increasing use in consumer products. There is a concern that GO will end up in oceans and potentially affect marine organisms. This study evaluated the hazards of GO and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) in marine mussels after exposure, finding that GO acts as a carrier for BaP but may also offer some protection against BaP accumulation.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tatiana Rusconi, Laura Riva, Carlo Punta, Montserrat Sole, Ilaria Corsi
Summary: This study demonstrates that marine mussels uptake cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and their gills and immune cells are disrupted by mechanical interaction even in environmentally realistic exposure scenarios. Therefore, safety aspects of cellulose nanofibers for aquatic species should be considered in future risk assessment.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-NANO
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
P. Rodriguez-Velarte, J. M. F. Babarro, A. Cobelo-Garcia
Summary: There were no significant differences in the bioaccumulation of trace elements between the native Mytilus galloprovincialis and invasive Xenostrobus securis species in Vigo Ria, except for zinc and silver. Mytilus galloprovincialis showed a 4-fold enrichment in zinc compared to Xenostrobus securis, while Xenostrobus securis exhibited approximately 40-fold higher concentrations of silver. This high bioaccumulation of silver by Xenostrobus securis can be utilized for silver biomonitoring in the area.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andra Bucse, Oana Cristina Parvulescu, Dan Vasiliu, Mihaela Muresan
Summary: This study aimed to assess the accumulation of some trace elements in the soft tissue of Mediterranean mussels from the Black Sea. The results showed that smaller mussels had higher concentrations of arsenic and bromine when collected in lower temperature and higher salinity and pH conditions, while larger mussels had lower concentrations when collected in June. Furthermore, copper, selenium, zinc, and bromine likely originated from anthropogenic sources, and their higher concentrations in February and June were obtained at lower seawater salinity levels. The concentrations of copper, zinc, selenium, arsenic, and mercury in mussel soft tissue were below the maximum permissible levels.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andrew van der Schatte Olivier, Lewis Le Vay, Shelagh K. Malham, Michael Christie, James Wilson, Susan Allender, Sarah Schmidlin, Jordan M. Brewin, Laurence Jones
Summary: Shellfish farming plays a role in nutrient removal from coastal and estuarine systems by incorporating nutrients into their tissues and shells. The study found that rope culture removes more nitrogen and phosphorus per tonne of live mussel compared to bottom culture, while bottom culture provides more carbon removal in shell. Additionally, phosphorus content in tissue was significantly negatively related to mean annual seawater temperature.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
M. J. Botelho, C. Vale, F. Marques, C. Moreirinha, S. T. Costa, L. Guilhermino, S. Joaquim, D. Matias, M. Candeias, A. Rudnitskaya
Summary: Marine bivalves in estuarine and coastal areas are exposed to microplastics in water. A study found that the number and characteristics of microplastics in mussels and cockles varied over one year.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Ilker Keskin, Aygul Ekici
Summary: This study used two different collectors to investigate the settlement, growth, and other parameters of Mediterranean mussels. It found that temperature is the most important environmental factor affecting mussel growth. The study also showed significant differences in growth rate between different types of collectors, with polyethylene fishing nets proving unsuitable for Mediterranean mussel cultivation.
AQUACULTURE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Supono Supono, Maria Mugica, Stefan Spreitzenbarth, Andrew Jeffs
Summary: This study investigated the potential use of two concentrated microalgal diets as a replacement for live microalgae in bivalve nursery culture. The results showed that these diets can be used up to 50% substitution without compromising the survival and nutritional profile of juvenile green-lipped mussels.
AQUACULTURE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Constantina Grigoriou, Danae Costopoulou, Irene Vassiliadou, Dimitrios Chrysafidis, Vassilios Tzamtzis, Evangelos Bakeas, Leondios Leondiadis
Summary: The study developed a new sensitive and selective GC-MS/MS method for analyzing 26 PAHs in mussel samples from aquaculture farms in Thermaikos and Strymonian Gulf. The concentrations of PAHs were found to be at moderate to low levels, with seasonal variation and predominance of low molecular weight PAHs. Diagnostic ratios indicated both petrogenic and pyrolitic sources of PAHs. Greek mussels in the studied gulfs had low levels of contaminants due to minimal environmental pollution, in compliance with levels of other POPs in the mussels.
Article
Fisheries
Xiaochen Zhu, Penny Miller-Ezzy, Mark Gluis, Jianguang Qin, Youhong Tang, Yibing Liu, Yingying Zhao, Xiaoxu Li
Summary: This study investigated the effect of adding lipids and antioxidants on the survival rate of frozen mussel oocytes. The results showed that supplementing phospholipids or antioxidants in the base cryoprotectant agent significantly increased the survival rate of mussel larvae. Additionally, adding salmon lipid extract resulted in the highest survival rate and increased the number of mussel spat.
Article
Ecology
Jamie Hudson, Christopher D. McQuaid, Marc Rius
Summary: Human activities alter biodiversity patterns through species extinctions and range shifts, particularly through human mediated species transfer and contemporary climate change. Hybrids may survive in environments where their parents cannot, suggesting potential for range expansion under changing conditions. However, experimental results show that hybrids perform poorly compared to parental crosses, indicating limited potential for range expansion into new environments. In contrast, the more widespread parental species exhibits better performance across a range of temperatures, suggesting better resilience to future conditions.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Molline N. C. Gusha, Tatenda Dalu, Christopher D. McQuaid
Summary: The study examined the effects of rock pool physical properties and seasonal changes on food web structure in a warm temperate coast of South Africa. The results showed that factors such as water depth, pool size, phosphate concentrations, salinity, and temperature all influenced overall food web dynamics, with effects moderated by seasonality.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gerardo I. Zardi, Jonathan R. Monsinjon, Christopher D. McQuaid, Laurent Seuront, Mauricio Orostica, Andrew Want, Louise B. Firth, Katy R. Nicastro
Summary: Climate change is predicted to intensify temperature extremes, impacting species distributional changes and ecosystem functioning. Research shows that within-species thermal sensitivity can be modulated by species interactions, with symbiotic parasites in intertidal mussels providing thermal buffering during extreme temperature events.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Kevin C. K. Ma, Molline N. C. Gusha, Gerardo Zardi, Katy R. Nicastro, Jonathan R. Monsinjon, Christopher D. McQuaid
Summary: This study demonstrates that biogeographic boundaries can significantly impact the spread of invasive species. Initial breach of boundaries can lead to rapid spread, but subsequent boundaries encountered may act as barriers. Spatial autocorrelation in population densities and abundance were observed at multiple scales along the southern Africa coast. Detection of spatial structures at different scales suggests that ecologically determined processes regulate abundance and distribution of invasive species.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jamie Hudson, Juan Carlos Castilla, Peter R. Teske, Luciano B. Beheregaray, Ivan D. Haigh, Christopher D. McQuaid, Marc Rius
Summary: This study used species distribution modeling and genomic data to investigate the restricted range of a highly invasive Australian marine species, Pyura praeputialis, in Chile. The research revealed high genomic diversity and adaptive potential in Chile, with genomic data showing that a single region in Australia was the sole source of genotypes for the introduced range. The study also identified unoccupied suitable habitat adjacent to the current introduced range, suggesting that slight environmental changes could lead to a significant expansion of the species' range along the South American coast.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Kevin C. K. Ma, Suzanne Redelinghuys, Molline N. C. Gusha, Siphelele B. Dyantyi, Christopher D. McQuaid, Francesca Porri
Summary: The study investigated the spatial structure of sea urchin abundance, finding robust congruence at smaller scales but not necessarily at larger scales. The abundance of two sea urchin species was positively correlated with upstream habitat availability, suggesting that upstream populations may act as larval sources.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Review
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Kevin C. K. Ma, Christopher D. McQuaid
Summary: The study found that six crab species have extended their distribution ranges in southern Africa, crossing the boundaries of different ecological regions, while the other two species showed no evidence of poleward range extension. This discovery may indicate a trend of tropical-adapted crab species extending their ranges into temperate regions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Victoria J. Cole, Laura M. Parker, Elliot Scanes, John Wright, Lauren Barnett, Pauline M. Ross
Summary: This study demonstrates that climate-driven changes from one mussel species to another can have significant impacts on infaunal communities, with elevated pCO2 and warming affecting the growth of native versus introduced mussels, as well as influencing infaunal colonization patterns.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Limnology
Lyle D. Vorsatz, Bruce P. Mostert, Christopher D. McQuaid, Stefano Cannicci, Francesca Porri
Summary: Our study suggests that spawning females and embryos of intertidal crabs from warm temperate latitudes are more vulnerable to temperature increases, especially in water. The Oxygen- and Capacity-Limited Thermal Tolerance hypothesis indicates that ontogeny-specific aerobic capacity determines the overall species' thermal sensitivity.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chamara Benthotage, Kai G. Schulz, Victoria J. Cole, Kirsten Benkendorff
Summary: Leaf oysters are large bivalves that form shellfish reefs in estuaries. This study investigated the condition of leaf oyster populations in four estuaries in northern New South Wales, Australia, and found significant correlations between their health indicators and water quality parameters. Leaf oysters exhibited differences in density, size, and body condition among the estuaries, but were able to form dense reefs in estuarine soft muddy bottom habitats with low water flow.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Mauricio H. Orostica, Adam J. Wyness, Jonathan R. Monsinjon, Katy R. Nicastro, Gerardo Zardi, Cassandra Barker, Christopher D. McQuaid
Summary: This study examines the impact of adult mussels as settlement habitat on mussel recruitment and investigates the species-specific suitability of the habitats they offer.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Alexia M. Dievart, Christopher D. McQuaid, Gerardo Zardi, Katy R. Nicastro, Pierre W. Froneman
Summary: Photoautotrophic euendolithic microorganisms are widely distributed in environments with calcium carbonate substrates and sufficient light. They can infest marine calcifying organisms, causing sub-lethal and lethal damage. However, under suitable conditions, their presence can also have surprising benefits for the host.
Article
Zoology
Melissa K. Boonzaaier-Davids, Kevin C. K. Ma, Christopher D. Mcquaid
Summary: This study reports on the discovery of epibiotic bryozoans on shells of the invasive Mediterranean mussel. Over 2500 mussels were collected from rocky shores in South Africa, and 10% of them hosted epibiotic bryozoans. The study identified three encrusting cheilostome species and a new species with avicularia and ooecia. The research highlights the diversity of epibiotic bryozoans on mussel shells and suggests that invasive species can provide new substratum for rare or undescribed species of epibionts.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alexia M. Dievart, Christopher D. McQuaid, Gerardo I. Zardi, Katy R. Nicastro, Pierre W. Froneman
Summary: Mussel beds provide thermal buffering and can be colonized by photoautotrophic euendoliths, which indirectly benefit associated molluscs by increasing shell albedo. This study investigated the effect of euendolithic infestation on body temperatures of four mollusc species in artificial mussel beds. Results showed that non-infested beds had higher shell temperatures for two species under high solar irradiance and low wind speeds. Morphological differences between species could explain this contrast. The findings suggest that euendolithic infestation improves humidity and temperature in mussel beds, benefiting associated molluscs particularly under heat stress.
Review
Marine & Freshwater Biology
C. D. Mcquaid
Summary: Understanding the future of Southern Ocean ecosystems requires a holistic approach. Human activities have led to both top-down and bottom-up perturbations in the Southern Ocean. The removal of whales and finfish has disrupted the ecosystem from the top down, affecting other predators. Meanwhile, climate change is altering physical conditions, which will have bottom-up consequences for primary producers and top predators. Three key physical changes - loss of sea ice, changes to water-column stability, and water transport patterns - will impact krill abundances, primary producer community structure, and prey availability to land-breeding predators.
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)