Aquaculture International

, Volume 4, Issue 3, pp 237–252 | Cite as

Abnormal melanization and microstructural distortions of the shell of great scallop living in shallow water

  • H. Larvor
  • J. P. Cuif
  • N. Devauchelle
Papers

Modifications of great scallop (Pecten moximus) shells have been noticed in many sites of scallop fisheries in Brittany, especially in shallow waters. These calcification abnormalities are linked to the appearance of a brown colouration of the internal calcified shell layer, due to the presence of a eumelanin associated with the insoluble organic matrix of the biocrystals. The appearance of this pigment generates many disturbances of the calcified foliated microstructure of the scallop internal shell layer. The mantle structure is not modified in brown shells as compared with white ones. No pathogenic signs such as hyperplasia or haemocytic infiltration have been observed. According to this observation, we hypothesize that the brown colour phenomenon is more a result of environmental disturbance rather than a symptom of a pathogenic disease.

The colour abnormalities of the internal shell layer can be detected by a spectral analysis of its reflectance before it can be detected with the naked eye. This method, correlated to microstructural observations, gives a rapid and precise analysis of the appearance of the pigmentation on adult or juvenile scallops. It may be a useful method for the evaluation of the influence of environmental parameters, for example, on calcification and its abnormalities.

Keywords

Calcification Environmental disturbances Eumelanin Great scallop (Pecten maximus) Shell colour microstructure and melanization 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Alzieu, C., Héral, M., Thibaud, Y., Dardignac, M.J. and Feuillet, M. (1982) Influence des peintures antisalissures à base d'organostanniques sur la calcification de la coquille de l'huître Crassostrea gigas. Revue des Travaux de l'Institut des Pêches Maritimes 45, 101–116.Google Scholar
  2. Baird, R.H. and Gibson, F.A. (1956) Underwater observations of escallop beds (Pecten maximus) beds. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 35, 555–562.Google Scholar
  3. Bartoli, P. (1976) Modification de la croissance et du comportement de Venerupis aurea parasité par Gymnophallus fossarum P. Bartoli, 1965 (Trematode, Digenea). Haliotis 7, 23–28.Google Scholar
  4. Blake, J.A. and Evans, J.W. (1973) Polydora and related genera as borers in mollusks shells and other calcareous substrates (Polychaeta: Spionidae). Veliger 15, 235–249.Google Scholar
  5. Bower, S.M., Blackbourn, J., Meyer, G.R. and Nishimura, D.J.H. (1992) Diseases of cultured Japanese scallops (Patipecten yessoensis) in British Columbia, Canada. Aquaculture 107, 201–210.Google Scholar
  6. Clark, G.R. (1974) Calcification on unstable substrate: marginal growth in the mollusk Pecten diegensis. Science 183, 968–970.Google Scholar
  7. Comfort, A. (1951) The pigmentation of molluscan shells. Biological Reviews 26, 285–301.Google Scholar
  8. Crippa, R., Horak, V., Prota, G., Svoronos, P. and Wolfram, L. (1989) Chemistry of melanins. In: The Alkaloids, Chemistry and Pharmacology (ed. A. Brossi), Academic Press: San Diego, Vol. 36, pp. 253–323.Google Scholar
  9. Devauchelle, N., Cuif, J.P., Larvor, H. and Larzul, P. (1994) Scallop spawners shells: stuctural and biochemical characteristics and abnormalities. Proceedings of the 9th Pectinid Workshop, 22–27 April 1993, Nanaimo, Canada 1, 95–106.Google Scholar
  10. Dunca, E., Mutvei, H. and Seire, A. (in press) Deformations and structural modifications of Macoma (Bivalvia, Mollusca) shells caused by industrial pollution in Tallinn Bay, Estonia. Bulletin de l'Institut Océanographique de Monaco, Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Biomineralisation, Monaco, 1993, November 17–20th.Google Scholar
  11. Dungan, C.F. and Elston R.A. (1988) Histopathological and ultrastructural characteristics of bacterial destruction of the hinge ligaments of cultured juvenile pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas. Aquaculture 72, 1–14.Google Scholar
  12. Epifanio, C.E. (1976) Shell deformity among scallops (Argopecten irradians Lamark) cultured in a recirculating seawater system. Aquaculture 9, 81–85.Google Scholar
  13. Farley, C.A. and Lewis, E.J. (1994) Studies of Juvenile Oyster Disease. Journal of Shellfish Research, 13, 314.Google Scholar
  14. Ford, S.E. and Paillard, C. (1994) A comparison of juvenile oyster disease in the USA and brown ring disease in Manila clams in Europe. Journal of Shellfish Research 13, 314.Google Scholar
  15. Gabe, M. (1968) Techniques Histologiques. Masson & Cie: Paris, 1133 pp.Google Scholar
  16. Gadd, J.M. and de Rome, L. (1988) Biosorption of copper by fungal melanin. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 29, 610–617.Google Scholar
  17. Gadd, J.M., Gray, D.J. and Newby, P.J. (1990) Role of melanin in fungal biosorption of tributyltin chloride. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 34, 116–121.Google Scholar
  18. Ganter, P. and Jollès, G. (1969) Histochimie Normale et Pathologique 1, Gauthier-Villars: Paris, 923 pp.Google Scholar
  19. Getchell, R.G. (1991) Diseases and parasites of scallops. In: Scallop: Biology, Ecology and Aquaculture (ed. S.E. Shumway) Developments in Aquaculture and Fisheries Science 21, 471–494.Google Scholar
  20. Gould, E. and Fowler, B. (1991) Scallops and pollution. In: Scallop: Biology, Ecology and Aquaculture (ed. S.E. Shumway) Developments in Aquaculture and Fisheries Science 21, 495–515.Google Scholar
  21. Goulletquer, P., Heral, M., Bechemin, C. and Richard, P. (1989) Anomalies de calcification chez la palourde japonaise Ruditapes philippinarum: caractérisation et comparaison des compositions en acides aminés de différentes parties de la coquille analysées par HPLC. Aquaculture 81, 169–183.Google Scholar
  22. Graham, D.J., Tiffany, S.M. and Vogel, F.S. (1978) The toxicity of melanin precursors. Journal of Investigative Dermatology 70, 113–116.Google Scholar
  23. Hill, H.Z. (1992) The function of melanins or six blind people examine an elephant. Bioessays 14, 407–418.Google Scholar
  24. His, E. and Robert, R. (1980) Action d'un sel organo-metallique, l'acétate de tributyle-étain sur les oeufs et les larves D de Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg). ICES, C.M. 1980/F: 27, 10 pp.Google Scholar
  25. Isaji, S. (1993) Formation of organic sheets in the inner shell layer of Geloina (Bivalvia: Corbiculidae): an adaptative response to shell dissolution. Veliger 36, 166–173.Google Scholar
  26. Johannessen, O.H. (1973) Deformations of the inner shell surface of Venerupis pullastra (Montagu) (Lamellibranchia) as a result of infection by a trematode metacercaria, with a note of parasitism leading to parasitic castration. Sarsia 52, 117–122.Google Scholar
  27. Larvor, H., Devauchelle, N. and Cuif, J.P. (1995) Scallop calcification problems in the ‘Rade de Brest’. Rapport des 3 es Rencontres Scientifiques du Contrat de Baie ‘Rade de Brest’1, 320–332.Google Scholar
  28. Larvor, H., Cuif, J.P., Devauchelle, N., Dauphin, Y., Denis, A., Gautret, P. and Marin, F. (in press) Development of a brown internal coloration in the scallop shell (Pecten maximus). Study of microstructural characteristics and analyses of crystal organic matrices. Bulletin de l'Institut Océanographique de Monaco, Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Biomineralisation, Monaco, 1993, November 17–20th.Google Scholar
  29. Lillie, R.D. (1957) Metal reduction reactions of the melanins: histochemical studies. Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry 5, 325–333.Google Scholar
  30. Machado, J. and Coimbra, J. (in press) The effect of some pollutants on the calcification process in the shell of Anodonta cygnea. Bulletin de l'Institut Océanographique de Monaco, Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Biomineralisation, Monaco, 1993 November 17–20th.Google Scholar
  31. Machado, J., Coimbra, J., Castilho, F. and Sa, C. (1990) Effect of diflubenzuron on shell formation of the freshwater clam, Anodonta cygnea. Archives of Environmental Contamination Toxicology 19, 35–39.Google Scholar
  32. Mann, R. and Taylor, R.E. (1981) Growth of the bay scallop, Argopecten irradians, in a waste recycling aquaculture system. Aquaculture 24, 45–52.Google Scholar
  33. Marin, F. and Dauphin, Y. (1992) Malformations de la couche nacrée de l'huître perlière Pinctada margaritifera (L.) de la Polynésie française: rapports entre altérations microstructurales et composition en acides aminés. Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Zoologie, Paris, 13e série 3, 157–168.Google Scholar
  34. Mimura, T., Itho, S., Tsujikawa, K., Nakajima, H., Satake, M., Kohama, Y. and Okabe, M. (1987) Studies on biological activities of melanin from marine animals. V. Anti-inflamatory activity of low-molecular-weight melanoprotein from squid (Fr. SMII), Chemical Pharmacology Bulletin 35, 1144–1150.Google Scholar
  35. Minchin, D. (1991) Observation of shell colour in the scallop, Pecten maximus (L.). Journal of Conchology 34, 41–46.Google Scholar
  36. Mori, K. (1975) Seasonal variation in physiological activity of scallops under culture in the coastal waters of Sanriku district, Japan, and a physiological approach of a possible cause of their mass mortality. Bulletin of the Marine Biological Station of Asamushi 15, 59–79.Google Scholar
  37. Paice, P.A.M. (1974) Observation on abnormal shell defects and pigmentation in the great scallop (Pecten maximus). Proceedings of the Underwater Association 1974, 109–114.Google Scholar
  38. Paillard, C. (1992) Etiologie et caractérisation de la maladie de l'anneau brun chez la palourde d'élevage Ruditapes philippinarum. Thèse Doctorat, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, 2 vols 196 pp.Google Scholar
  39. Palmer, R.E. (1980) Observations on shell deformities, ultrastructure, and increment formation in the Bay scallop Argopecten irradians. Marine Biology 58, 15–23.Google Scholar
  40. Pass, D.A., Dybdahl, R. and Mannion, M.M. (1987) Investigations in the cause of mortality of the pearl oyster, Pinctada maxima (Jamson), in western Australia. Aquaculture 65, 149–169.Google Scholar
  41. Pye, A.E. (1974) Microbial activation of prophenol oxidase from immune insect larvae. Nature 251, 610–613.Google Scholar
  42. Robb, D.A. (1984) Tyrosinase. In: Copper Proteins and Copper Enzymes (ed. E. Lontie). CRC Press: Boca Raton, Florida, Vol II, pp. 207–240.Google Scholar
  43. Robert, R., His, E. and Maurer, D. (1986) Toxicité d'un désherbant, l'atrazine-simazine; sur de jeunes stades larvaires de Crassostrea gigas et sur deux algues fourrage, Isochrisis affgalbana et Chaetoceros calcitrans. Haliotis 15, 319–325.Google Scholar
  44. Sato-Okoshi, W. and Okoshi, K. (1992) Polydora-scallop interactions: structural defenses in resistance to burrowing. Aquabiology 79, 113–119.Google Scholar
  45. Sato-Okoshi, W. and Okoshi, K. (1993) Microstructure of scallop and oyster shells infested with boring Polydora. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 59, 1243–1247.Google Scholar
  46. Sindermann, C.J. (1979) Pollution-associated diseases and abnormalities of fish and shellfish: a review. Fishery Bulletin 76, 717–749.Google Scholar
  47. Smolowitz, R.M., Bullis, R.A. and Abt, D.A. (1992) Pathologic cuticular changes of winter impoundment shell disease preceding and during intermolt in the American lobster, Homarus americanus. Biological Bulletin 183, 99–112.Google Scholar
  48. Söderhäll, K. (1982) Prophenoloxidase activating system and melanization - a recognition mechanism of arthropods? A review. Developmental and Comparative Immunology 6, 601–611.Google Scholar
  49. Söderhäll, K. (1992) Biochemical and molecular aspects of cellular communication in arthropods. Bulletin of Zoology 59, 141–151.Google Scholar
  50. Söderhäll, K. and Cerenius, L. (1992) Crustacean immunity. Annual Review of Fish Diseases 1992, 3–23.Google Scholar
  51. Söderhäll, K., Cerenius, L. and Johansson, M.W. (1994) The prophenoloxidase activating system and its role in invertebrate defence. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 712, 151–161.Google Scholar
  52. Waite, J.H. (1992) The DORA ephemera: a recurrent motif in invertebrates. Biological Bulletin 183, 178–184.Google Scholar
  53. Watabe, N. (1983) Shell repair. In: The Mollusca (eds A.S.M. Saleuddin and K.M. Wilbur) Academic Press Inc: New York. Vol IV, pp. 289–316.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Chapman & Hall 1996

Authors and Affiliations

  • H. Larvor
    • 1
  • J. P. Cuif
    • 2
  • N. Devauchelle
    • 1
  1. 1.IFREMER, DRV/APlouzanéFrance
  2. 2.Université de Paris XI, Laboratoire de PaléontologieOrsay CédexFrance

Personalised recommendations