Valve gape behaviour of mussels (Mytilus edulis) exposed to dispersed crude oil as an environmental monitoring endpoint

Environmental monitoring requires cost-effective and efficient methods for detecting potential effects of pollution, and valve gape behaviour has been used with this purpose for a range of contaminants in freshwater and marine bivalves. The current study investigated the use of a new method for meas...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine pollution bulletin 2017-04, Vol.117 (1-2), p.330-339
Main Authors: Redmond, Kirsten J., Berry, Mark, Pampanin, Daniela M., Andersen, Odd Ketil
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Dispersed crude oil
Environmental Monitoring
Mussel
Mytilus edulis - drug effects
Petroleum Pollution
Valve gape
Valvometry
Water Pollutants, Chemical - pharmacology
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Summary:Environmental monitoring requires cost-effective and efficient methods for detecting potential effects of pollution, and valve gape behaviour has been used with this purpose for a range of contaminants in freshwater and marine bivalves. The current study investigated the use of a new method for measuring valve behaviour responses in mussels (Mytilus edulis) exposed to dispersed crude oil (DCO). Results confirmed that valve gape is a sensitive parameter; at the high DCO concentration (0.25mgL−1) the mean valve gape was reduced from 49 to 31%, and mussels increased shell movement (measured as distance travelled) or spent more time closed to avoid contact with the oil. At the low DCO concentration (0.015mgL−1) the distance travelled parameter was the most sensitive endpoint. Results also demonstrated that valve gape behaviour is a valid endpoint when monitoring mussels for exposure to DCO. •Laser triangulation allows for continuous data on mussel valve gape.•Valve gape is sensitive to high levels of dispersed crude oil.•Shell movement (distance travelled) sensitive to high levels of dispersed crude oil.•Inter-individual variation in responses at low levels of dispersed crude oil.
ISSN:0025-326X
1879-3363
DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.02.005