Chemical defence in mussels: antifouling effect of crude extracts of the periostracum of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis.
Shells of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis remain free of fouling organisms as long as they possess an intact periostracum, and a multiple antifouling defence that comprises a ripple-like microtopography and the production of chemical antifouling compounds has been suggested previously. This study investigates the chemical defence strategy of blue mussels for the first time. Six crude extracts of the periostracum of intact shells were made using solvents of increasing polarity. These extracts were tested against common fouling organisms in laboratory based bioassays. Non-polar and moderately polar fractions showed the highest activities: the diethyl ether fraction strongly inhibited attachment of Balanus amphitrite cyprids and the marine bacteria Cobetia marina and Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus. Attachment of the benthic diatom Amphora coffeaeformis was significantly reduced by the dichloromethane extract, whereas both ethyl acetate and diethyl ether fractions slowed diatom growth. These results provide the first evidence of surface bound compounds that may moderate surface colonisation.
Bers
A Valeria
AV
IFM-Geomar Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences, Kiel University, Duesternbrooker Weg 20, D - 24105 Kiel, Germany. vbers@ifm-geomar.de
D'Souza
Fraddry
F
Klijnstra
Job W
JW
Willemsen
Peter R
PR
Wahl
Martin
M
D000818:Animals; D018533:Biomass; D002457:Cell Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003116:Color; D017377:Diatoms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D049880:Mytilus edulis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology*; D000267:Tissue Adhesions
D002457:Cell Extracts