Effects of pH on filtration of freshwater pearl mussel Lamellidens marginalis, Lamarck (Bivalvia: Unionidae) under laboratory conditions (original) (raw)
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Evaluating high pH for control of dreissenid mussels
Management of Biological Invasions, 2013
When dreissenid mussels (Dreissena polymorpha -zebra mussel and Dreissena bugensisquagga mussel) are present in the source of raw cooling water they become a serious problem for industrial facilities using this water unless defensive steps are taken. The treatment of choice for most facilities tends to be one of chemical control, as it is convenient and effective. The major advantage offered by chemical treatments is that they can be engineered to protect most of the facility, from intake to discharge. A wide variety of chemical treatment strategies is available for controlling mussel populations; however, minimizing local environmental impact is frequently difficult. Chlorine, widely used for dreissenid control, creates undesirable byproducts. Proprietary compounds used for mussel control generally have to be detoxified by bentonite clay. Both chlorine and proprietary products tend to be non-selective and therefore may be toxic to all forms of aquatic life. As dreissenid mussels have a relatively narrow range of pH tolerance, with the optimum range being pH 7.5 to 9.3, it was hypothesized that by manipulating this environmental variable it may be possible to control the growth, settlement, and survival of dreissenids in raw water systems by increasing the pH level with a single point addition. Two field experiments were carried out using a custom built flow-through laboratory to test the effect of elevated pH on dreissenid mussels. The first experiment was carried out on quagga mussels in the lower Colorado River and the second was performed on zebra mussels using water from San Justo Reservoir in San Benito County, California. Both experiments tested the ability of dreissenid pediveligers to settle under conditions of elevated pH, the long term survival of the adult dreissenids under the same conditions, and the influence on experimental conditions on corrosion rates for carbon steel, stainless steel, and copper.
Filtration rate of blue mussels as a function of flow velocity: preliminary experiments
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 1990
The filtration rate of adult blue mussel Mytilus edulir L. was measured in flume flows ranging from 6-38 cm. s-' at a constant seston concentration. At > 25 cm. s-', blue mussel filtration rates were low, < 10% of 10" cells. ml-I of Chroomonas salina filtered. h-' vs. up to 41 y0 at 6.8 cm. s-'. The mechanism of flow-induced inhibition of filtration rate in the blue mussel could not be determined by the experimental approach used. Two previously described mussel pump characteristics initiated in response to increases in ambient flow pressure-pump shutdown or gill bypass shunting-are possible explanations for feeding inhibition.
Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology, 2009
The golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei, Mollusca: Bivalvia) is an invasive species that has been causing considerable environmental and economic problems in South America. In the present study, filtration rates of L. fortunei were determined in the laboratory under different temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 28, and 30 ºC) and two types of food (Algamac2000® and the chlorophycean alga Scenedesmus sp.). There was a statistically significant relationship between time and filtration rates in the experiment using Scenedesmus sp., regardless of temperature. However, this pattern was absent in the experiment using Algamac, suggesting that the relationship between filtration rates and temperature might depend on the size of the filtered particles. In addition, there was no correlation between filtration rates and either shell size or condition index (the relationship between the weight and the length of a mussel). The filtration rate measured in the present study (724.94 ml/h) was one of the highest rates recorded among invasive bivalves to date. Given that the colonies of the golden mussel could reach hundreds of thousands of individuals per square meter, such filtration levels could severely impact the freshwater environments in its introduced range.
Freshwater Mussels as Biofilters
PhD Thesis, 2004
Freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) are filter feeders, removing phytoplankton and other suspended particulate matter from the water. The removal of suspended matter from water is often considered desirable, in order to reduce algal blooms and in the treatment of drinking water. This thesis investigates the potential role of freshwater mussels as living filters, or “biofilters”, in a variety of settings. Initial measurements of the filtration rates of British freshwater mussels showed that individual mussels can filter up to half a litre of water per hour. Calculations of the filtration rates of mussel populations in four British rivers indicate that mussel filtering removes between 7% and 30% of the particulate matter in a parcel of water travelling 10km downstream. This implies that mussels play an important role in the removal of suspended particulate matter in river ecosystems. In a large-scale experiment on the Ouse Washes RSPB reserve, mussels were placed in three eutrophic ditches to assess their potential use in the biomanipulation of these ditches. Although mussels suffered high mortality in two ditches, in the third ditch 70% of mussels survived, and the section of ditch containing mussels remained clear of floating macrophytes throughout the summer. However, mussels had little effect on the water quality in ditches, and further work is needed before they are used in future biomanipulations. The novel use of mussels in drinking water treatment was investigated by placing mussels in large flow-through tanks at Coppermills drinking water treatment plant (operated by Thames Water). Mussels reduced the concentration of chlorophyll a and suspended solids in the water flowing through tanks, and increased sedimentation through the production of faeces and pseudofaeces. Therefore mussels behaved as flocculators, and could be used in the early stages of drinking water treatment. In order to assess the feasibility of producing the large numbers of mussels needed for their use as biofilters, freshwater mussels were cultured in the laboratory. Juveniles of Anodonta anatina and A. cygnea were successfully reared for over a year, and reached 14mm in length (mean = 11.3mm, n = 17) with 20% survival. Unio pictorum and Pseudanodonta complanata were also reared for 274 and 100 days respectively, although they had lower survival and growth. The apparatus used in these rearing attempts was small and inexpensive, and could be scaled up to produce the required number of mussels for their use as biofilters. Additionally, the rearing of P. complanata is vital for the conservation of this rare mussel species, and offers the first opportunity to study its juvenile morphology and habitat requirements.
Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 2001
Abstruct.-The freshwater mussel Ellipiio complunciiu was provided water containing green algae and cyanobacteria delivered from the Partitioned Aquaculture System (PAS) at eight flow rates to determine algal filtration rates as mg of particulate organic carbon ( P 0 C ) k g wet tissue weight per h. The dominant taxon in cyanobacterial waters was Microcystis while the dominant taxa in green algal waters were Scenedesmus and Ankistrodesmus. The cell counts of Scenedesmus and Ankisrrodesmus were the only algal taxa that were significantly different between the incoming water and water filtered by mussels. Filtration rates of POC obtained from green algal water were significantly greater than from cyanobacteria-dominated waters at all flow rates. A significant increase in mean filtration rate was observed as flow rates increased. The filtration rate of green algae increased as POC concentration increased, peaking at 28 mg C/L. A maximum filtration rate was not observed with cyanobacterial waters.
Goods and Services of Marine Bivalves
Cultured and wild bivalve stocks provide ecosystem services through regulation of nutrient dynamics; both by regeneration of nutrients that become available again for phytoplankton production (positive feedback), and by extraction of nutrients through filtration and storage in tissue (negative feedback). Consequently, bivalves may fulfil a role in water quality management. The magnitude of regulating services by filter feeding bivalves varies between coastal ecosystems. This review uses the blue mussel as a model species and evaluates how cultured mussel stocks regulate nutrient dynamics in oligo-meso-and eutrophic ecosystems. We thereby examine (i) the eco-physiological response of mussels, and (ii) the positive and negative feedback mechanisms between mussel stocks and the surrounding ecosystem. Mussel culture in nutrient-poor areas (deep Norwegian fjords) are compared with cultures in other coastal systems with medium-to rich nutrient conditions. It was found that despite differences in eco-physiological rates under nutrient-poor
The use of mussels for mitigating the noxious effect of phytoplankton spring blooms on farmed fish
Aquacultural Engineering, 2015
The possibility of using the natural biofiltration power of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis, 0.37 ± 0.08 g ind −1 dry weight) to dampen the potential detrimental effect of phytoplankton blooms on juvenile farmed sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) was tested in a fish farm during a 35-day mesocosm experiment. Mussel effective clearance rates averaged 41.15 ± 14.19 m 3 h −1 and led to a 6.3-13.1-fold reduction of the phytoplankton abundance as well as comparable decreases in chlorophyll a and turbidity. This improvement in seawater quality significantly enhanced fish physiological performances: weight-based growth rates were significantly higher (2.87 ± 0.43% d −1 ) compared to control exposed to non-filtered (bulk) seawater (2.55 ± 0.44% d −1 ). The same observation holds for the Fulton condition index and the metabolic activity (RNA:DNA ratio). For fish reared in bulk seawater, diatoms embedded in gills (Rhizosolenia imbricata, Thalassiosira sp.) and mucus overproduction indicated a stress (i.e. mechanical damages) induced by phytoplankton exposure which, in turn, may have affected fish energy balance. The use of mussels as a satisfying mitigation tool reducing phytoplankton bloom impacts is discussed with regard to phytoplankton bloom magnitude and ashore marine fish farming in coastal ecosystems.
Aquaculture, 1999
The freshwater mussel Diplodon chilensis Hyriidae is abundant in bays where salmon farming takes place in southern Chilean lakes. In order to evaluate the possibility of mitigating salmon farming impacts through the management of benthic communities, we measured the ability of D. chilensis to filter algae and clear the water column of particulates and dissolved nutrients associated with salmon farms. A 3 month experiment growing juvenile salmon with and without mussels was conducted in outdoor tanks where dissolved nutrients and chlorophyll a were measured before, during and after addition of mussels. In addition, the filtering ability of mussels was measured in laboratory aquaria under different algal concentrations ranging from oligotrophic to hypereutrophic. Within 18 days, D. chilensis reduced chlorophyll a concentrations in tanks Ž y1. with fish by two orders of magnitude from ; 300 to 3 mg l compared to tanks without it. Concentrations of total phosphorous, PO and NH were also reduced by about one order of 4 4 magnitude after 18 days, through to day 39 from the beginning of the experiment. Thus, mussels were able to change a hypereutrophic situation resulting from salmon culture to an oligotrophic one. Since the tanks were closed systems, the effect of mussels declined by day 61, probably due to the excessive accumulation of organic matter. In the aquarium experiments, D. chilensis Ž 6 y1 y1. showed a maximum cell retention rate 60 = 10 cells ind h at chlorophyll concentrations y1 Ž y1 y1. between 20 and 30 mg l. Considering their high filtering rate ca. 1.31 h ind and high Ž y2. density in Chilean lakes, particularly in coastal areas and bays 50 to 200 ind m , mussels may exert a considerable filtering effect on lakes. In addition, mussels may play an important role in reducing nutrient loadings.
Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 2004
Growers produce over 2.8 million kg of catfish (over $350 million wholesale revenue) annually in the United States. The microbiology of the phytoplankton community in culture water affects the growth and flavor of the catfish and is a consideration for growers. Filter feeders, like silver carp and freshwater mussels, in controlled growth systems are used to adjust the phytoplankton species. Our goal was to successfully control the algal populations with filter feeders in catfish production. We used silver carp Hypophthulmichthys molitrix as a filter feeder in Partitioned Aquaculture System (PAS) water. Silver carp completely eliminated the cyanobacteria Microcystis by size and biovolume reduction. This created the desired effect of small green algae dominating the algal community. A significant but opposite change was observed when freshwater mussels Elliptio complunutu filtered PAS water resulting in Microcystis biovolume and size dominance in the PAS; a less desirable algal community. This study also showed an immediate shift in the phytoplankton community when silver carp and mussels were interchanged between PAS waters. The size-selective filtration by the two filter-feeding taxa was important in determining the composition of the PAS phytoplankton community, and it was apparent that filtration with silver carp successfully depleted undesirable algae.
Survival, Growth and Condition of Freshwater Mussels: Effects of Municipal Wastewater Effluent
Freshwater mussels (Family Unionidae) are among the most imperiled group of organisms in the world, with nearly 65% of North American species considered endangered. Anthropogenic disturbances, including altered flow regimes, habitat alteration, and pollution, are the major driver of this group's decline. We investigated the effects of tertiary treated municipal wastewater effluent on survivorship, growth, and condition of freshwater mussels in experimental cages in a small Central Texas stream. We tested the effluent effects by measuring basic physical parameters of native three ridge mussels (Amblema plicata) and of nonnative Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea), before and after 72-day exposure at four sites above and below a municipal wastewater treatment plant outfall. Survivorship and growth of the non-native Asian clams and growth and condition indices of the native three ridge mussels were significantly higher at the reference site above the outfall than in downstream sites. We attribute this reduction in fitness below the outfall to elevated nutrient and heavy metal concentrations, and the potential presence of other untested-for compounds commonly found in municipal effluent. These results, along with an absence of native mussels below the discharge, indicate a significant negative impact of wastewater effluent on both native and non-native mussels in the stream.