Valve movement response of the freshwater clam Corbicula fluminea following exposure to waterborne arsenic.
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.
Liao
Chung-Min
CM
Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, 10617 Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. cmliao@ntu.edu.tw
Jau
Sheng-Feng
SF
Lin
Chieh-Ming
CM
Jou
Li-John
LJ
Liu
Chen-Wuing
CW
Liao
Vivian Hsiu-Chuan
VH
Chang
Fi-John
FJ
D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000633:toxicity*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D049874:Corbicula / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D010507:Periodicity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic