Mussel as a Tool to Define Continental Watershed Quality

Abstract

Bivalves appear as relevant sentinel species in aquatic ecotoxicology and water quality assessment. This is particularly true in marine ecosystems. In fact, several biomonitoring frameworks in the world used mollusks since several decades on the base of contaminant accumulation (Mussel Watch, ROCCH) and/or biological responses called biomarker (OSPAR) measurements. In freshwater systems, zebra and quagga mussels could represent alternative sentinels, which could be seen as the counterparts of mussel marine species. This chapter presents original studies and projects underlying the interest of these freshwater mussels for water quality monitoring based on contaminant accumulation and biomarker development measurements. These sentinel species could be used as a tool for chemical/biological monitoring of biota under the European water framework directive and for the development of effect-based monitoring tools.

Immunological Responses of Marine Bivalves to Contaminant Exposure: Contribution of the -Omics Approach

“…Among the biomarkers, particular attention is given to those that can reveal processes whose disturbances from the molecular, cellular, tissue, and whole organism level can be reflected at a higher level of biological organization (population and community level). These include physiological functions, such as energy metabolism, reproduction, and immune response [( 8 ) and references quoted therein].…”

“…The bivalve's affords efficient protection against different potential invaders, based on the activity of circulating immunocytes, the hemocytes, which can recognize potential pathogens and foreign particles through phagocytosis and different cytotoxic reactions, secreting soluble factors in the hemolymph fluid ( 8 – 14 ). Bivalve hemocytes, thanks to their capacity to cross epithelial barriers and the characteristics of the open circulatory system, play pleiotropic roles in other functions, such as nutrient transport, biomineralization, and reproduction ( 15 – 17 ).…”

Experience Gained from Ecotoxicological Studies in the Seine River and Its Drainage Basin Over the Last Decade: Applicative Examples and Research Perspectives

“…In accordance with their sedentary lifestyle, individual responses of the invertebrates used as biomarkers may be correlated with the quality of the sampling site, thereby allowing for the development of early warning and sensitive diagnosis tools exhibiting high ecological relevance [35]. Biomarkers related to energy metabolism [36] and immune functions could be useful prognostic tools, bearing in mind the close relationships existing between the energy balance and the immunity status in the health of organisms.…”

The Utility of Dreissena polymorpha for Assessing the Viral Contamination of Rivers by Measuring the Accumulation of F-Specific RNA Bacteriophages

“…Bivalves and crustaceans are known to be useful accumulators of contaminants and can be used to continuously monitor and provide long-term insights into surrounding contamination levels [19,20]. They are often proposed as tools for monitoring the chemical contamination of water [21][22][23]. Likewise, the concentrations of FRNAPHs and other enteric viruses in bivalve mollusks are traditionally used to monitor pollution in the context of public health [24,25].…”

“…Likewise, the concentrations of FRNAPHs and other enteric viruses in bivalve mollusks are traditionally used to monitor pollution in the context of public health [24,25]. The zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) is a continental bivalve mollusk extensively used to monitor inland waters [23,26,27]. This bivalve's bioecological traits (i.e., its abundance, wide distribution and filtration activity) make it a useful sentinel species especially as its tolerance of transplantation allows for the active monitoring of various types of water bodies.…”