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Valve movement response of the freshwater clam Corbicula fluminea following exposure to waterborne arsenic

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Abstract

We developed an inductance-based valvometry technique as a detection system to measure the valve daily activity in freshwater clam Corbicula fluminea in response to waterborne arsenic. Our findings reveal that C. fluminea experiences a valve opening in the absence of arsenic predominantly in the morning hours (03:00–08:00) with a mean daily opening/closing period of 21.32 (95% CI: 20.58–22.05) h. Amplification of daily activity occurred in the presence of arsenic. Behavioral toxicity assays revealed arsenic detection thresholds of 0.60 (95% CI: 0.53–0.66) mg l−1 and 0.35 (95% CI: 0.30–0.40) mg l−1 for response times of 60 and 300 min, respectively. The proposed valve daily activity model was linked with response time-specific Hill dose-response functions to predict valve opening/closing behavior in response to arsenic. The predictive capabilities were verified satisfactory with the measurements. Our results implicate a biomonitoring system by valve daily activity in C. fluminea to identify safe water uses in areas with elevated arsenic.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the National Science Council of Republic of China for financial support under the Grant NSC 95-2313-B-002-052-MY3. We also thank Biosystems Modeling and Control Lab members for assistance with collection of field samples and assays. This work was inspired by the original paper appeared in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 22: 914-920 (2003) by Dr. Tran and coworkers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, 10617, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

    Chung-Min Liao, Sheng-Feng Jau, Chieh-Ming Lin, Chen-Wuing Liu, Vivian Hsiu-Chuan Liao & Fi-John Chang

  2. Department of Biomechatronic Engineering, National Ilan University, 260, Ilan, Taiwan, ROC

    Li-John Jou

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  1. Chung-Min Liao
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  2. Sheng-Feng Jau
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  3. Chieh-Ming Lin
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  4. Li-John Jou
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  5. Chen-Wuing Liu
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  6. Vivian Hsiu-Chuan Liao
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Correspondence to Chung-Min Liao.

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Liao, CM., Jau, SF., Lin, CM. et al. Valve movement response of the freshwater clam Corbicula fluminea following exposure to waterborne arsenic. Ecotoxicology 18, 567–576 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-009-0314-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-009-0314-5

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