Comparison of age-length and growth-increment general growth models of the Schnute type in the Pacific Blue Mussel, Mytilus trossulus Gould

Mussels have evolved many adaptations to protect themselves, including the production of byssal threads. These are strong, proteinaceous fibres that mussels secrete to adhere themselves to rocks, preventing detachment by waves and predators. These byssal threads may be strengthened if mussels can recognize potential threats, such as native crabs, as their populations have a long history of coevolution. Unfortunately, the introduction of invasive predators poses a challenge for prey, which may not be capable of recognizing them. In this study, byssal thread production in the Pacific blue mussel (Mytilus trossulus ) was observed when exposed to effluent from the native red rock crab (Cancer productus) or the invasive European Green crab (Carcinus maenas). M. trossulus were placed in closed systems with effluent from either C. productus , C. maenas or control (no predator), over a 24-hour time period. Final measurements of number, length and diameter of byssal threads were recorded. M. trossulus exposed to effluent from C. productus produced byssal threads at a statistically significantly faster rate than in the control group over the first 7.5 hours. M. trossulus exposed to effluent from C. maenas produced byssal threads at a statistically significantly faster rate than both the C. productus and control groups. However, after 24 hours, there was no statistically significant difference between the mean number of byssal threads for any treatment. Additionally, we found no statistically significant difference between the mean diameter of byssal threads produced or length of byssal threads produced for any treatment.

Download Full-text

High genetic diversity of bivalve transmissible neoplasia in the blue mussel Mytilus trossulus Gould from the subarctic Sea of Okhotsk

10.1101/2021.12.07.471395 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Maria Skazina ◽

Nelly Odintsova ◽

Mariia A. Maiorova ◽

Lidia Frolova ◽

Irina Dolganova ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Sea Of Okhotsk ◽

Blue Mussel ◽

Mytilus Trossulus ◽

High Genetic Diversity ◽

Histological Techniques ◽

Mtdna Coi ◽

The Pacific ◽

Mussel Mytilus Trossulus ◽

Evolutionary Lineages

There are increasing findings of the bivalve transmissible neoplasia derived from the Pacific mussel Mytilus trossulus (MtrBTN) in populations of different Mytilus species worldwide. The Subarctic is an area where this disease has not yet been sought despite the fact that Mytilus spp. are widespread there, and M. trossulus itself is a boreal species. We used cytological and histological techniques to diagnose disseminated neoplasia in a sample of M. trossulus from Magadan in the subarctic Sea of Okhotsk. Neoplasia was identified in 11 of 214 mussels studied. Using mtDNA COI sequencing, we revealed genotypes identical or nearly identical to known MtrBTN ones in the hemolymph of most of the diseased mussels. Both MtrBTN evolutionary lineages have been identified, the widespread MtrBTN2, and MtrBTN1, so far only known from M. trossulus in British Columbia on the other side of the Pacific from Magadan. In addition, MtrBTN2 was represented by two common diverged mtDNA haplolineages. These conclusions have been confirmed for selected cancerous mussels by molecular cloning of COI and additional nuclear and mtDNA genes. On the background of high genetic diversity, different cancers were similar in terms of ploidy (range 4.0 - 5.8n) and nuclear to cell ratio. Our study provides the first description of neoplasia and MtrBTN in mussels from the Sea of Okhotsk and from the Subarctic, of both MtrBTN1 and MtrBTN2 in the same mussel population, and the first direct comparison between these transmissible cancers.

Download Full-text

Study on the growth rates of mollusks in hanging culture in Possjet Bay (Sea of Japan)

Бюллетень Дальневосточного малакологического общества ◽

10.24866/1560-8425/2020-24/67-81 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 (1/2) ◽

pp. 67-81

Author(s):

Nina I. Grigoryeva

Keyword(s):

Growth Rate ◽

Sea Of Japan ◽

Growth Rates ◽

Crassostrea Gigas ◽

Blue Mussel ◽

Peter The Great Bay ◽

Mytilus Trossulus ◽

Mizuhopecten Yessoensis ◽

Yesso Scallop ◽

Mussel Mytilus Trossulus

Исследована скорость роста культивируемых моллюсков подвесного выращивания в зал. Посьета (зал. Петра Великого, Японское море) за 1970–2011 гг. Приведены ростовые характеристики приморского гребешка (Mizuhopecten yessoensis (Jay, 1857)), тихоокеанской мидии (Mytilus trossulus Gould, 1850) и тихоокеанской (гигантской) устрицы (Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg, 1793)) в течение первых трех лет развития. Методами энтропийного анализа исследованы сроки достижения личинками и спатом определенных размеров. Выявлены временные интервалы и рассчитана вероятность наступления этих сроков. Обсуждается влияние техники культивирования на скорость роста. Ключевые слова: скорость роста, личинки, спат, приморский гребешок Mizuhopecten yessoensis, тихоокеанская мидия Mytilus trossulus, тихоокеанская устрица Crassostrea gigas, залив Посьета, Японское море. The growth rates of cultivated mollusks were studied in Possjet Bay (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan) during 1970–2011. The growth characteristics were presented for the Yesso scallop (Mizuhopecten yessoensis (Jay, 1857)), the blue mussel (Mytilus trossulus Gould, 1850), and the Pacific (giant) oyster (Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg, 1793)) during the first three years of life. The average amount of time of the larvae and spat reaching certain sizes was determined using the method of entropy analysis. The time intervals were identified and the probability of these intervals to happen were also calculated. The influence of the cultivation techniques on the growth rate is discussed. Key words: growth rate, larvae, spat, Yesso scallop Mizuhopecten yessoensis, blue mussel Mytilus trossulus, Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, Possjet Bay, Sea of Japan.

Download Full-text