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Abstract
The adhesion of Perna canaliculus mussel larvae on a germanium (Ge) prism in filtered seawater at 16°C has been investigated by in situ attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy. The adhesive from the mussel larvae was spectrally monitored over 2 h and the IR spectrum showed its glycoproteinaceous nature with sulphated and carboxylated moieties. The adhesive from the mussel larvae differs from that of the adults, resembling the mucus secretion found in other benthic marine species at a larval stage. To date, this appears to be the first work describing the main chemical features of secreted adhesive associated with the primary settlement of mussel larvae. The acquired knowledge on the larval adhesive features may lead to enhanced settling methods in aquaculture or to antibiofouling strategies. The ATR-IR approach under temperature control is potentially useful for such studies on other small benthic organisms in both marine and freshwater environments.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Ellie Watts (Cawthron Institute), Dan McCall (Marlborough Mussel Company) and Andrew Eliot (Aotearoa Seafoods Ltd) for supplying the mussel larvae. Thanks are also due to Mike Barker and Amy Weaver (Marine Science), and Phil Bremer (Food Science) of the University of Otago. This work was supported by the New Zealand Foundation for Research Science and Technology Contract No. CO8X409.