Skip to main content
Log in

Byssus of the Green-Lipped Mussel Perna viridis (Linnaeus) as a Biomonitoring Material for Zn

  • Ecology
  • Published:
Russian Journal of Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Recently, Yap et al. (2003) suggested that the byssus of the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis can be a biomonitoring material for Zn although further validation is required. In this work, we did a simple correlation study between Zn concentrations in the byssus (and soft tissue) and in different geochemical fractions of the sediment. A significant (P < 0.01) Pearson’s correlation coefficient (R = 0.84) between the Zn concentrations in the byssus and soft tissue indicated that the Zn level in the byssus is highly correlated to its level in the soft tissue and that the byssus could act as an excretion route for Zn. Higher R-values were found between the byssus-easily or freely, leachable and exchangeable, byssus-acid-reducible, byssus-oxidizable-organic and byssus-nonresistant fractions of the sediment, and the byssus-Zn concentration in the total sediment when compared to those found between the soft tissue and the same geochemical fractions. This indicated that the byssus was more reflective of Zn contamination in the field environment than the soft tissue. Therefore, the data further support the use of the byssus as a biomonitoring material for Zn as was originally suggested by Yap et al. [3].

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Szefer, P., Frelek, K., Szefer, K., Lee, Ch-B., Kim, B-S., Warzocha, J., Zdrojewska, I., and Ciesielski, T., Distribution and relationships of trace metals in soft tissue, byssus and shells of Mytilus edulis trossulus from southern Baltic, Environ. Pollut., 2002, vol. 120, pp. 423–444.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Nicholson, S. and Szefer, P., Accumulation of metals in the soft tissues, byssus and shell of the mytilid Perna viridis (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) from polluted and uncontaminated locations in Hong Kong coastal waters, Mar. Pollut. Bull., 2003, vol. 46, pp. 1039–1043.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Yap, C.K., Ismail, A., Tan, S.G., and Omar, H., Can the byssus of green-lipped mussel Perna viridis (Linnaeus) from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia be a biomonitoring organ for Cd, Pb and Zn? Field and laboratory studies, Environ. Int., 2003, vol. 29, pp. 521–528.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Yap, C.K., Ismail, A. Tan, S.G., and Omar, H., Correlations between speciation of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in sediment and their concentrations in total soft tissue of green-lipped mussel Perna viridis from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Environ. Int., 2002, vol. 28, pp. 117–126.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Pentreath, R.J., The accumulation from water of 65Zn, 54Mn, 58Co and 59Fe by the mussel Mytilus edulis, J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. U.K., 1973, vol. 53, pp. 127–143.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Szefer, P., Ikuta, K., Frelek, K., Zdrojewska, I., and Nabrzyski, M., Mercury and other trace metals (Ag, Cr, Co, and Ni) in the soft tissue and byssus of Mytilus edulis from the east coast of Kyushu Island, Japan, Sci. Tot. Environ., 1999, vol. 229, pp. 227–234.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Phillips, D.J.H. and Rainbow, P.S., Biomonitoring of trace aquatic contaminants, London: Elsevier Science, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Phillips, D.J.H., Organochlorines and trace metals in green-lipped mussels Perna viridis from Hong Kong waters: A test of indicator ability, Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 1985, vol. 21, pp. 251–258.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Kennedy, P.C., The use of molluscs for monitoring trace elements in the marine environment in New Zealand. 1. The contribution of ingested sediment to trace element concentrations in New Zealand molluscs, N. Z. J. Mar. Freshwat. Res., 1986, vol. 20, pp. 627–640.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Badri, M.A. and Aston, S.R., Observation on heavy metal geochemical associations in polluted and non-polluted estuarine sediments, Environ. Pollut. (Series B), 1983, vol. 6, pp. 181–193.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Tessier, A. and Campbell, P.G.C., Partitioning of trace metals in sediments: Relationship with bioavailability. Hydrobiologia, 1987, vol. 149, pp. 43–52.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Mo, C. and Neilson, B., Standardization of oyster soft dry weight measurements, Wat. Res., 1994, vol. 28, pp. 243–246.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Zar, J.H., Biostatistical analysis. 2nd Edn. (Prentice/Hall, New Jersey.), 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Saed, S., Ismail, A., Omar, H., and Kusnan, M., Accumulation of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd) in flat-tree oysters Isognomon alatus exposed to pig farm effluent, Toxicol. Environ. Chem., 2002, vol. 82, pp. 45–58.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Yap, C.K., Ismail, A., and Tan, S.G., Cd and Zn in the straits of Malacca and intertidal sediments of the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Mar. Poll. Bull., 2003, vol. 46, pp. 1348–1353.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. De Lazzari, A., Rampazzo, G., and Pavoni, B., Geochemistry of sediments in the Northern and Central Adriatic Sea, Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci., 2004, In Press.

  17. Coombs, T.L. and Keller, P.J., Mytilus byssal thread as an environmental marker for metals, Aquat. Toxicol., 1982, vol. 1, pp. 291–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Unlu, M.Y. and Fowler, S.W., Factors affecting the flux of arsenic through the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, Mar. Biol., 1979, vol. 51, pp. 209–219.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Phillips, D.J.H. and Rainbow, P.S., Strategies of trace metals sequestration in aquatic organisms, Mar. Environ. Res., 1989, vol. 28, pp. 207–210.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Forstner, U. and Wittmann, G., Metal pollution in the aquatic environment, Springer: Berlin, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Koide, M., Lee, D.S., and Goldberg, E.D., Metal and transuranic records in mussel, shell, byssal threads and tissues, Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci., 1982, vol. 15, pp. 679–695.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. George, S.G., Pirie, B.J.S., and Coombs, T.L., The kinetics of accumulation and excretion of ferric hydroxide in Mytilus edulis (L.) and its distribution in the tissues, J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 1976, vol. 23, pp. 71–84.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Ikuta, K., Correlations between ratios of metal concentrations in byssuses to those in soft bodies and metal concentrations in soft bodies of bivalves, Bull. Fac. Agric., Miyazaki Uni., 1986, vol. 33, pp. 265–273.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Szefer, P., Ikuta, K., Kushiyama, S., Szefer, K., Frelek, K., and Geldon, J., Distribution and association of trace metals in soft tissues and byssus of Mytilus edulis from the east coast of Kyushu Island, Japan, Arch. Environ. Cont. Toxicol., 1997, vol. 32, pp. 184–190.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Original English Text Copyright © 2005 by Biologiya Morya, Yap, Ismail, Tan.

This article was submitted by the authors in English.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yap, C.K., Ismail, A. & Tan, S.G. Byssus of the Green-Lipped Mussel Perna viridis (Linnaeus) as a Biomonitoring Material for Zn. Russ J Mar Biol 31, 102–108 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11179-005-0050-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11179-005-0050-5

Key words

Navigation