Seasonal variation in the strength of byssal attachment of the common mussel Mytilus edulis L.

Author(s):  
Hilary Ann Price

A seasonal cycle in byssal attachment strength of Mytilus edulis is described in a population of mussels on the South Wales coast. Attachment strength reaches a maximum in September with a minimum in May.INTRODUCTIONMany seasonal cycles of a physiological nature have been described in the common mussel Mytilus edulis L. (reviewed by Gabbott, 1976; also Pieters et al. 1978; Zurburg et al. 1978), some of which, for example the annual accumulation and subsequent utilization of energy substrates, appear to be linked to gametogenesis. Following spawning in the spring the gonads of Mytilus enter a resting phase; metabolic demands are low. Glycogen and protein are accumulated in the tissues at this time as phytoplankton is abundant. Gonadal development commences in autumn when phytoplankton density has declined and energy is supplied by the utilization of stored reserves. Pieters et al. (1978) have suggested that the resulting decline in reserves is accentuated by the need for greater byssus production at this time to secure the mussels against the rigours of autumn and winter storms. No accounts exist of field studies which might support this hypothesis.

Author(s):  
H. A. Price

INTRODUCTIONThe common mussel Mytilus edulis L. is one of the most successful shore molluscs. It is widely distributed in the northern hemisphere and is abundant not only in the most sheltered bays and loughs but also in conditions of extreme exposure (Lewis, 1964; Seed, 1976). Attachment to the substratum is by means of the proteinaceous byssus complex, the strength of which has been shown to vary seasonally (Price, 1980b). This variation could be a response to seasonal fluctuations in wave action, as suggested by Pieters et al. (1978), or may result from the seasonality of other environmental variables. Some of these, e.g. salinity and sea temperature, have been shown to influence byssus production (Glaus, 1968; Van Winkle, 1970; Allen et al. 1976), Phytoplankton density, spawning and the reduced ‘scope for growth’ during winter months (Bayne & Widdows, 1978) may also play a role in determining byssus strength.In the present study, the relationships between byssal attachment strength and environmental and other variables are examined in a population of mussels on the South Wales coast.


1976 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 331 ◽  
Author(s):  
HJ Frith ◽  
SM Carpenter ◽  
LW Braithwaite

The gonad cycles of the crested pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes and the common bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera in inland New South Wales, and the plumed pigeon Geophaps plumifera and the red- plumed pigeon G. ferruginea in central and north-western Australia, have been studied. In each species some males were producing abundant sperm and some females had enlarged ovarian follicles in each month of the year. There was a tendency for fewer birds to be at the maximum stage of spermatogenesis in autumn and winter than in other seasons. The size of the testis was not indicative of its spermatogenic state. There were annual cycles of gonad size in each species; the maxima were the spring and summer. The timing of the cycles did not differ in the two plumed pigeons but in both species the maxima were earlier than in the other species. Male common bronze-wings achieved maximum gonad size earlier than did male crested pigeons. In addition to the annual cycle there were significant biannual effects in males. Except for the male and female of the red-plumed pigeon, in which they may have had some biological significance, these biannual effects were probably only included to improve the accuracy of the curve fitting. There were significant effects of rainfall on the gonad cycle of all species except the common bronzewing; these were consistent with the expected effect of rainfall on the birds' food supply and nutrition. It was concluded that, although the gonad cycles were controlled mainly by changes in photo-period, the abundance of food and the effects of rainfall on it were important in modifying the cycle.


Author(s):  
Anthony A. Paparo ◽  
Judith A. Murphy

The purpose of this study was to localize the red neuronal pigment in Mytilus edulis and examine its role in the control of lateral ciliary activity in the gill. The visceral ganglia (Vg) in the central nervous system show an over al red pigmentation. Most red pigments examined in squash preps and cryostat sec tions were localized in the neuronal cell bodies and proximal axon regions. Unstained cryostat sections showed highly localized patches of this pigment scattered throughout the cells in the form of dense granular masses about 5-7 um in diameter, with the individual granules ranging from 0.6-1.3 um in diame ter. Tissue stained with Gomori's method for Fe showed bright blue granular masses of about the same size and structure as previously seen in unstained cryostat sections.Thick section microanalysis (Fig.l) confirmed both the localization and presence of Fe in the nerve cell. These nerve cells of the Vg share with other pigmented photosensitive cells the common cytostructural feature of localization of absorbing molecules in intracellular organelles where they are tightly ordered in fine substructures.


2000 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Byrne ◽  
Peter A. Vesk

The Australian freshwater mussel Hyridella depressa sequesters elements in calcium phosphate (CaP) granules that form extensive aggregations in its tissues. Elements contained in these granules were determined by X-ray microanalysis of river and lake mussels from the Hawkesbury–Nepean River system, New South Wales. Granules in freeze-substituted mantle tissue were analysed to determine the variation in element profiles in granules among mussels and among sites. For the common elements Ca, P, Fe, Mg and Mn, granule composition reflected catchment lithology and site trophic status and indicated exogenous input. These were most important for differentiation among lake sites and also indicated differences between lake and river mussels. Site differences seen with some common elements in granules from lake mussels correlated with differences in water chemistry. Trace elements, particularly Al, Cu, Zn and Pb, were also important in lake and river site differentiation. The granules play a major role in element dynamics in freshwater mussel tissues and provide a focal structure for direct analysis of element accumulation by these bivalves. The results indicate that characterization of element content of granules in mussel populations would provide valuable insights into animal–element interactions in freshwater systems for ecological and ecotoxicological investigations.


1806 ◽  
Vol 96 ◽  
pp. 239-266

A fore-knowledge of the wind and weather is an object so very interesting to all classes of men, and the changes in the mercurial barometer affording the means which appear most conducive to it, a system that should with certainty explain the connection between the variations of the mercury and those in the atmosphere under all circumstances, becomes greatly desirable; to seamen, more especially, whose safety and success depend so much upon being duly prepared for changes of wind, and the approaching storm, it would be an acquisition of the first importance: in a more extended view, I may say, that the patriot and the philanthropist must join with the philosopher and the mariner in desiring its comple­tion. So long and widely-extended a course of observation, however, seems requisite to form even a basis for it, that a complete system is rather the object of anxious hope than of reasonable expectation. Much has been done towards it, but so much appears to remain, that any addition to the common stock, however small, or though devoid of philosophical accuracy, I have thought would be received by the learned with candour. With this prepossession, I venture to submit to them some observations upon the movement and state of the mercury upon the coasts of New Holland and New South Wales, the Terra Australis, or Australia, of the earlier charts.


BMC Genomics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Inés González-Castellano ◽  
Chiara Manfrin ◽  
Alberto Pallavicini ◽  
Andrés Martínez-Lage

Abstract Background The common littoral shrimp Palaemon serratus is an economically important decapod resource in some European communities. Aquaculture practices prevent the genetic deterioration of wild stocks caused by overfishing and at the same time enhance the production. The biotechnological manipulation of sex-related genes has the proved potential to improve the aquaculture production but the scarcity of genomic data about P. serratus hinders these applications. RNA-Seq analysis has been performed on ovary and testis samples to generate a reference gonadal transcriptome. Differential expression analyses were conducted between three ovary and three testis samples sequenced by Illumina HiSeq 4000 PE100 to reveal sex-related genes with sex-biased or sex-specific expression patterns. Results A total of 224.5 and 281.1 million paired-end reads were produced from ovary and testis samples, respectively. De novo assembly of ovary and testis trimmed reads yielded a transcriptome with 39,186 transcripts. The 29.57% of the transcriptome retrieved at least one annotation and 11,087 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected between ovary and testis replicates. Six thousand two hundred seven genes were up-regulated in ovaries meanwhile 4880 genes were up-regulated in testes. Candidate genes to be involved in sexual development and gonadal development processes were retrieved from the transcriptome. These sex-related genes were discussed taking into account whether they were up-regulated in ovary, up-regulated in testis or not differentially expressed between gonads and in the framework of previous findings in other crustacean species. Conclusions This is the first transcriptome analysis of P. serratus gonads using RNA-Seq technology. Interesting findings about sex-related genes from an evolutionary perspective (such as Dmrt1) and for putative future aquaculture applications (Iag or vitellogenesis genes) are reported here. We provide a valuable dataset that will facilitate further research into the reproductive biology of this shrimp.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaanika Kronberg ◽  
Jonathan Byrne ◽  
Jeroen Jansen ◽  
Philipp Antczak ◽  
Adam Hines ◽  
...  

Abstract The monitoring of anthropogenic chemicals in the aquatic environment including their potential effects on aquatic organisms, is important for protecting life under water, a key sustainable development goal. In parallel with monitoring the concentrations of chemicals of concern, sentinel species are often used to investigate the biological effects of contaminants. Among these, bivalve molluscs such as mussels are filter-feeding and sessile, hence an excellent model system for measuring localized pollution.This study investigates the relationship between the metabolic state of the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and its physiology in different environments. We developed a computational model based on a reference site (relatively unpolluted) and integrated seasonal dynamics of metabolite relative concentrations with key physiological indicators and environmental parameters. The analysis of the model revealed that changes in metabolite levels during an annual cycle are influenced by water temperature and are linked to gonadal development. This work supports the importance of data-driven biology and its potential in environmental monitoring.


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