The effect of size, weight, body compartment, sex and reproductive status on the bioaccumulation of 19 trace elements in rope-grown Mytilus galloprovincialis

Abstract

a b s t r a c tNumerous trace elements (TEs) can be considered as potential pollutants of the environment, their mining productions and industrial uses increasing worldwide. Their monitoring can be achieved through the use of bioindicator species, such as the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lamarck, 1819). That species has been widely used to monitor the chemical pollution of coastal ecosystems by Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, As, Ag and V. Conversely, environmental levels of Be, Al, Fe, Mn, Co, Se, Mo, Sn, Sb and Bi have been little or not monitored so far in mussel watch programs. Bioaccumulation processes of these 19 TEs in rope-grown M. galloprovincialis purchased from a salt pond with good chemical water quality were thus investigated in the present study.Mussels efficiently accumulated the 19 studied TEs. Bioaccumulation processes were driven by numerous mutually dependent biological parameters such as the mussel size and flesh weight, the sex and the reproductive status and the body compartment considered. TE bioaccumulation was a power function of the mussel soft body dry weight; total contents linearly increased with the shell length. Small-size mussels overall concentrated more TEs, with a high inter-individual variability, consequently influencing the modelling of their bioaccumulation in the whole rope population. Although a large range of rope-grown M. galloprovincialis sizes can be used for monitoring purposes, one will thus take care not to use extreme size individuals. The influence of gametogenesis in determining female body higher TE concentrations prior to spawning could not be neglected and varied depending on the element. TEs were preferentially accumulated in the hepatopancreas, except for Zn, Se, Cd and Mo, more concentrated in gills. Gametogenesis did not influence TE distribution between body compartments, but likely diluted their concentrations as a direct consequence of massive reproductive tissue production.So, results from the present study underline the potential use of M. galloprovincialis in the biomonitoring of numerous little studied TEs and give some insights into the decisive role played by some relevant biological parameters in bioaccumulation processes of the 19 investigated TEs in rope-grown mussels.

Influence of gonadal development on metal accumulation in the Portuguese oyster,Crassostrea angulata,in subtropical areas

“…This pattern could be found in Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb, and the former three metals showed a significantly negative correlation ( p < 0.05) with GSI. Several studies have described a resting phase maximum and summer pre‐spawning minimum of metal concentration in oysters, clams and mussels (Adjei‐Boateng, Obirikorang, Amisah, Madkour, & Otchere, ; Fŕias‐Espericueta et al, ; Lobe1, & Wright, ; Páez‐Osuna et al, ; Richir & Gobert, ). However, in these investigations, correlations between GSI and metal concentrations in the gonad were relatively weak.…”

Influence of mussel biological variability on pollution biomarkers

“…If we consider that ST is indicative of age (Frew et al, 1989), the accumulation of these organic molecules would be higher in younger individuals, which could be related to its higher activity compared with older individuals (Yap et al, 2003). In a similar way, it has been described that animal size clearly influences bioaccumulation of chemical compounds in bivalves where higher concentrations was observed in smaller individuals (Richir and Gobert, 2013). The effect of animal size on pollutant bioaccumulation, have been related to variations in physiological processes, as feeding, which depends of size and age (Zhong et al, 2013).…”

Exposure to low environmental concentrations of manganese, lead, and cadmium alters the serotonin system of blue mussels

“…Such data highlight the importance of separate MAO activity analysis across sex, especially because sex of the mussel can impact metal accumulation . Richir and Gobert showed that Mn and Cd, but not Pb, metal concentrations vary across sex in Mytilus galloprovincialis , highlighting the importance of sex identification in metal exposure studies.…”