Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Copper-induced differential mortality in the mussel Mytilus edulis

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Copper toxicity experiments were performed with 3 000 mussels (Mytilus edulis L.) from a population that is a mixture of individuals originating in the Kattegat and in the Baltic. Subsequently, the electrophoretic patterns of the enzymes phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) and phosphogluco mutase (PGM) were analysed in the dead and surviving mussels in order to detect possible differential mortality. Significant differences in allele frequencies between dead and surviving mussels were found for PGI. The results are discussed in relation to genotypic differences in the PGI and in relation to the composite structure of the investigated population. It is concluded that the differential mortality is due to genotypic differences in the PGI locus and/or to different susceptibility to copper by mussels originating in the two geographic areas.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Literature cited

  • Ayala, F. J., D. Hedgecock, G. S. Zumwalt and J. W. Valentine: Genetic variation in Tridachna maxima, an ecological analog of some unsuccessful evolutionary lineages. Evolution 27(2), 177–191 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Battaglia, B., P. M. Bisol and E. Rodinó: Experimental studies on some genetic effects of marine pollution. Helgoländer Meeresunters. 33, 587–595 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bayne, B. L. (ed.): International biological programme 10. Marine mussels: their ecology and physiology, 506 pp. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1976

    Google Scholar 

  • Bayne, B. L.: Mussel watching, Nature, Lond. 275, 87–88 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradshaw, A. D. and T. McNeilly: The institute of biology's studies in biology, No. 130. Evolution and Pollution, 76 pp. London: Edward Arnold 1981

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryan, G. W.: The effects of heavy metals (other than mercury) on marine and estuarine organisms. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 177, 389–410 (1971)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buroker, N. E., W. K. Hershberger and K. K. Chew: Genetic variation in the Pacific oyster, Crassostrtea gigas. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 32, 2471–2477 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Davenport, J.: A study of the effects of copper applied continuously and discontinuously to specimens of Mytilus edulis (L.) exposed to steady and fluctuating salinity levels. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 57, 63–74 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Davenport, J. and A. Manley: The detection of heightened seawater copper concentrations by the mussel Mytilus edulis. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 58, 843–850 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Delhaye, W. and D. Cornet: Contribution to the study of the effect of copper on Mytilus edulis during reproductive period. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 50A, 511–518 (1975)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D'Silva, C. and W. Kureishy: Experimental studies on the accumulation of copper and zinc in the Green Mussel. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 9, 187–190 (1978)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eisler, R.: Acute toxicities of selected heavy metals to the softshell clam, Mya arenaria. Bull. environ. Contam. Toxicol. 17(2), 137–145 (1977)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gartner-Kepkay, K. E., L. M. Dickie, K. R. Freeman and E. Zouros: Genetic differences and environments of mussel populations in the Maritime Provinces. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 37, 775–782 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, E. D.: The mussel watch—a first step in global marine monitoring. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 6, 111 (1975)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, E. D., V. T. Boven, J. W. Farrington, G. Harvey, J. H. Martin, P. L. Parker, R. W. Risebrough, W. Robertson, E. Schneider and E. Gamble: The mussel watch. Envirn. Cont. 5(2), 101–126 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hvilsom, M. M. and B. F. Theisen: Inheritance of allozyme variations through crossing experiments with the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis L. Hereditas (In press)

  • Johnson, A. G. and F. M. Utter: Population differences of aspartate aminotransferase and peptidase in the bay mussel, Mytilus edulis. Anim. Blood Groups Biochem. Genet. 6, 71–80 (1975)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koehn, R. K., R. Milkman and J. B. Mitton: Population genetics of marine Pelecypods. IV. Selection, migration and genetic differentiation in the blue mussel Mytilus edulis. Evolution 30, 2–32 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Koehn, R. K. and J. B. Mitton: Population genetics of marine Pelecypods. I. Ecological heterogeneity and evolutionary strategy at an enzyme locus. Am. Nat. 106(947), 47–56 (1972)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koehn, R. K., F. J. Turano and J. B. Mitton: Population genetics of marine Pelecypods. II. Genetic differences in microhabitats of Modiolus demissus. Evolution, 27, 100–105 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lassen, H. H. and F. J. Turano: Clinical variation and heterozygote deficit at the Lap-locus in Mytilus edulis. Mar. Biol. 49, 245–254 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lavie, B. and E. Nevo: Heavy metal selection of phosphoglucose isomerase allozymes in marine gastropods. Mar. Biol. 71, 17–22 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  • Levinton, J. S. and H. H. Lassen: Selection, ecology and evolutionary adjustments within bivalve mollusc populations. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B 284, 403–415 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Levinton, J. S. and T. H. Suchanek: Geographic variation, niche bredth and genetic differentiation at different geographic scales in the mussels Mytilus californianus and M. edulis. Mar. Biol. 49, 363–375 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, J. L. M.: Schema of Lethal Action of Copper on Mussels. Bull. environ. Contam. Toxicol. 21, 808–814 (1979)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Milkman, R.: Genic polymorphism and population dynamics in Mytilus edulis. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 141, 397 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Milkman, R. and L. D. Beaty: Large-scale-electrophoretic studies of allelic variation in Mytilus edulis. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 139 140 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, D. J. H.: The use of biological indicator organisms to monitor trace metal pollution in marine and estuarine environments-a review. Envir. Pollut. 13, 281–317 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramond, S. and Yi-Yu Wang: Preparation and properties of acrylamide gel for use in electrophoresis. Anal. Biochem. 1, 391–396 (1960)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Scott, D. M. and C. W. Major: The effect of copper (II) on survival, respiration and heart rate in the common blue mussel, Mytilus edulis. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 143, 679–688 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Theisen, B. F.: Allozyme clines and evience of strong selection in three loci in Mytilus edulis L. (Bivalvia) from Danish waters. Ophelia 17(1), 135–142 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Population Biology, University of Copenhagen, 15 Universitetsparken, DK-2100, København Ø, Denmark

    M. M. Hvilsom

Authors
  1. M. M. Hvilsom
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by T. Fenchel, Aarhus

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hvilsom, M.M. Copper-induced differential mortality in the mussel Mytilus edulis . Marine Biology 76, 291–295 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393031

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393031

Keywords

Search

Navigation