Changes in the immune response and metabolic fingerprint of the mussel, Mytilus edulis (Linnaeus) in response to lowered salinity and physical stress

Bussell, James A.; Gidman, Eleanor A.; Causton, David R.; Gwynn-Jones, Dylan; Malham, Shelagh K.; Jones, M. Laurence M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4379-9006; Reynolds, Brian; Seed, Ray. 2008 Changes in the immune response and metabolic fingerprint of the mussel, Mytilus edulis (Linnaeus) in response to lowered salinity and physical stress. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 358 (1). 78-85. 10.1016/j.jembe.2008.01.018

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2008.01.018

Abstract/Summary

Mussels, such as Mytilus edulis, are common keystone species on open coasts and in estuaries and are frequently used in environmental monitoring programmes. Mussels experience a wide range of environmental conditions at these locations, including rapid changes in salinity and physical disturbance (both natural and from aquaculture practices). This paper addressed the hypothesis that reduced salinity will lower mussel blood immune function and influence mussel blood metabolic responses, and that this will in turn increase the susceptibility of mussels to other stresses such as physical disturbance. To test these hypotheses, experiments were conducted in controlled laboratory tank conditions and mussel blood was analysed using a combination of metabolic fingerprinting with FT-IR and immunological assay techniques. Reducing seawater salinity to half that of normal caused a significant reduction in several measures of immune function, including the concentration of haemocytes, percentage of eosinophilic haemocytes and phagocytosis. Mechanical shaking of mussels for 10 min caused a reduction in the level of respiratory burst activity. However, there was no evidence of additive or interactive effects of lowered salinity with shaking on the immune response. Analysis of mussel blood metabolic fingerprints revealed differences in response to half salinity (vs. full salinity) but there were no detectable effects of shaking. Increasing frequency and magnitude of flood events at coastal sites due to climate change could lead to longer, and more frequent, periods of reduced salinity. The potential impact on the immune function of this keystone species within or near estuaries could have knock-on effects on the wider ecosystem including altered nutrient cycling, changes in biodiversity and aquaculture production.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.jembe.2008.01.018
Programmes:	CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biogeochemistry > BG02 Recovery from acidification and eutrophication > BG02.2 Critical Loads
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Emmett
ISSN:	0022-0981
Additional Keywords:	Aquaculture, Climate change, Immune response, Mussel, Salinity, Stress
NORA Subject Terms:	Marine Sciences
Date made live:	21 Apr 2008 09:12 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/2775

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1016/j.jembe.2008.01.018

Programmes:

CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biogeochemistry > BG02 Recovery from acidification and eutrophication > BG02.2 Critical Loads

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Emmett

ISSN:

0022-0981

Additional Keywords:

Aquaculture, Climate change, Immune response, Mussel, Salinity, Stress