title: Responses of the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis (L.) to suspended solids.
abstract: Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the lethal and sublethal effects of suspended solids on the survival and physiological, behavourial and morphological changes of the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis collected from Tolo Harbour, Hong Kong. Results showed that P. viridis survived in all test conditions of suspended solids from 0 to 1,200 mg/l over a period of 96 h. Physiological responses of the green-lipped mussel under 14-d exposure of suspended solids from 0 to 600 mg/l, followed by 14-d recovery in natural seawater, revealed no significant changes (p > 0.05) in oxygen consumption and dry gonosomatic index for treatments in different concentrations of suspended solids and exposure time. Changes in clearance rate were only found to be significant (p < 0.001) with exposure time. Responses in behavourial and morphological changes of the green-lipped mussel were also studied under similar experimental treatments and exposure time. Byssus production was significantly (p < 0.001) related to exposure time. Gill damage, however, was significantly greater in treatments (p < 0.001). Present findings suggested that P. viridis could tolerate a high level of suspended solids in the laboratory. There were dose-dependent effects of suspended solids on morphology of gill filaments. Implications of survival and responses of the green-lipped mussel to suspended solids in the marine environment are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon.
authors.forename: P K S
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: F N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Yau
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Cheung
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000502:physiology; D005880:Gills / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010316:Particle Size; D013534:Survival; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D014873:Water Pollutants