Frontiers in Physiology (Jun 2018)

Synergistic Effects of Nano-ZnO and Low pH of Sea Water on the Physiological Energetics of the Thick Shell Mussel Mytilus coruscus

  • Yueyong Shang,
  • Yueyong Shang,
  • Yawen Lan,
  • Yawen Lan,
  • Zekang Liu,
  • Zekang Liu,
  • Hui Kong,
  • Hui Kong,
  • Xizhi Huang,
  • Xizhi Huang,
  • Fangli Wu,
  • Fangli Wu,
  • Liping Liu,
  • Liping Liu,
  • Menghong Hu,
  • Menghong Hu,
  • Menghong Hu,
  • Wei Huang,
  • Youji Wang,
  • Youji Wang,
  • Youji Wang,
  • Youji Wang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.00757
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9

Abstract

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In order to investigate the ecotoxicological effects of nano-ZnO particles and seawater acidification on marine bivalves, the thick shell mussels, Mytilus coruscus were subjected to joint treatments with different nano-ZnO concentrations (0 [control], 2.5 [medium] and 10 mg L-1 [high]) under two pH levels (7.7 [low]and 8.1 [control]) for 14 days. The results showed that respiration rate (RR), absorption efficiency (AE), clearance rate (CR), O:N ratio and scope for growth (SFG) were significantly reduced with nano-ZnO concentration increase, but ammonium excretion rate (ER) was increased. Low pH significantly reduced CR, RR, SFG, and O:N ratio of the mussels especially under high nano-ZnO conditions, and significantly increased ER. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed consistent relationships among most tested parameters, especially among SFG, RR, O:N ratio and CR under the normal pH and 0 nano-ZnO conditions. Therefore, seawater acidification and nano-ZnO interactively impact the ecophysiological responses of mussels and cause more severe effects when they appear concurrently.

Keywords