Effects of species and sites on metal concentrations in byssal threads of two mytilids

Abstract

Concentrations of 11 metals (Al, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sr, V and Zn) were determined by inductively coupled plasma quadruple mass spectrometer measurements in byssus of two mytilid species Mytilus galloprovincialis and Xenostrobus securis from three sites situated along the coastline of Ría de Vigo (NW Spain). The species coexist only at one of those sites, thus it was possible to compare the impact of both factors, site and species, on metal concentrations. Principal component and regression analyses showed a dominant effect of mussel species and not the site. In all samples, the highest concentration was observed for iron in accordance with the literature data for M. galloprovincialis. One order of magnitude higher concentrations of iron detected in the byssus of X. securis than that of M. galloprovincialis are discussed considering a different microstructure of byssus threads as shown by transmission electron microscopy images.

Keywords:

• biomonitoring
• byssus
• trace metals
• Mytilus galloprovincialis
• Xenostrobus securis
• Rias Gallegas
• estuarine environment

Acknowledgements

We thank Julita Nowakowska at the Department of Biology, University of Warsaw, for preparing TEM images. JMFB also acknowledges E. Silva Caride for the technical assistance in the field and laboratory.

Additional information

Funding

This study was partly funded by the project AGL2010-16464 (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Gobierno de España).