Valve closure responses of the Asiatic clam Corbicula fluminea exposed to cadmium and zinc

Abstract

The valve movement patterns of immobilized Asiatic clams (Corbiculafluminea) were monitored during exposure to constant concentrations of cadmium (0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 mg 1-') or zinc (0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.9 mg 1-l) for 24 h following a 24-h acclimation period. Data indicate that the duration of response was concentration dependent and toxicity related. Durations of periods with valves parted declined as the concentration of heavy metal increased. Behavior was consistent for both mean time to first closure following the initial exposure and mean time per valve parting episode over a 24-h exposure period. Mean time per valve parting episode during the 24-h exposure period ranged from = 600 minutes for control trials to 36 and 69 minutes for the highest concentrations of cadmium and zinc tested, respectively. There was no association between durations of periods with valves sealed and solutions of cadmium; however, lengthening durations of periods with valves sealed coincided with exposure of clams to progressively more concentrated zinc solutions. In addition, Asiatic clams demonstrated a greater rate of response (<ecline in the duration of periods with valves parted) to progressively more concentrated solutions of cadmium than to comparable increases in the concentrations of zinc solutions.

Energy metabolism and valve closure behaviour in the Asian clamCorbicula fluminea

“…However, consistent with some earlier studies on C. fluminea (Doherty et al, 1987;Ham and Peterson, 1994;Allen et al, 1996;Tran et al, 2003), this study clearly confirms that extended periods of valve closure, frequently up to 10-12·h, are part of the natural behaviour pattern of this clam (Fig.·3A). Furthermore, in the Rhine its valve movements followed a circadian rhythm from April until October (Fig.·3), accompanied by a 90% decrease in metabolic rate during valve closure.…”

Effects of the human antiepileptic drug carbamazepine on the behavior, biomarkers, and heat shock proteins in the Asian clam Corbicula fluminea

“…Bivalve siphons play important functional roles in nutritional physiology, defense, and reproduction (Moulton et al, 1996) and are therefore a signal of general health or stress. In fact, previous studies have demonstrated that bivalve siphoning can be influenced by metals or chlorpyrifos (Doherty et al, 1987;Milam and Farris, 1998;Cooper and Bidwell, 2006). Cooper and Bidwell (2006) reported that the valves of the clams were always closed during exposure to 3.13 mg/L chlorpyrifos treatments.…”

Chronic ecotoxicity of Zn and Pb to the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha

“…Doherty et al (1987) studied valve movement of the Asiatic clam Corbiculafluminea. They observed that the concentration needed to decrease the effect parameters (mean time to first closure and mean time of valve being parted) was around 200/zg L -l. Redpath and Davenport (1988) demonstrated that concentrations of 230--470/2g L -~ reduced the pumping of the marine mussel Mytilus edulis.…”