Search Results (24)

The morphological characteristics and surface roughness of substrata can significantly affect the settlement behaviour of planktonic larvae and the post-settlement survival of benthic organisms, such as mussels. Despite widespread recognition of these effects on ecological and aquaculture processes, species-specific complexities and limited research hinder a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon and the potential to harness its application. In this study, the settlement of juvenile green-lipped mussels (Perna canaliculus; 0.32–3.59 mm shell length) on 42 different custom-designed artificial substrata with varied branch widths and surface microstructures were compared. Mussels smaller than 0.99 mm in shell length exhibited a clear preference for substrates with a thinner branch width (1.6 mm), wider roughness width (3.2 mm), and shorter roughness height (0.4 mm) on both V-shaped and squared-shaped surface microstructures. In contrast, for mussels larger than 1 mm, only the branch width of artificial substrata significantly influenced mussel attachment, while millimetre-scale surface features had no measurable effect. These findings indicate that, at the millimetre scale, the attachment of mussels > 1 mm does not conform to the surface contact theory, which proposes that settling organisms prefer substrates with microstructures that maximize their surface contact. Overall, a thinner branch width consistently yielded higher attachment densities, underscoring its dominant role. Our results reveal significant opportunities for optimizing the design of artificial substrata in mussel aquaculture, such as spat catching and nursery ropes, potentially improving seed collection efficiency and reducing the subsequent loss of seed mussels during their culture on mussel farms. Full article

The ecotoxicity of large plastics resulting from adsorbed chemicals is largely unexplored. In this study, through an ecotoxicological simulation, we demonstrate how large plastics act as vectors of micro-organic pollutants adsorbed by them. Green mussels Perna viridis were exposed to low-density polypropylene (LDPE) plastics and LDPE plastics treated with highly toxic and carcinogenic PAH benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in multiple tanks over a period of 21 days. Mussel tissues, gills, and intestines of mussels were harvested on day 0, 7, 14, and 21 to measure BaP levels in tissues, total protein concentrations, and antioxidant biomarker (SOD, CAT, and GPx) activities in gills and intestines. The results showed that BaP uptake by mussels took place after one week and peaked on the 14th and 21st days. Survival probability decreased from 80% on day 7 to 20% on day 14 in the LDPE + BaP group. SOD levels in the intestine were much lower than those in the gills, indicating that the toxicity of BaP to Perna viridis was more severe in the gills than in the intestine. This was further confirmed by the high negative correlation (R² = 0.79) between BaP concentration and SOD activity levels. In the LDPE + BaP exposure tank, CAT activity increased consistently in gills from day 7 to day 14 to day 21, while for intestines, the levels increased from day 7 to day 14, then dropped on day 21. A positive correlation between CAT levels and BaP concentrations was noted for both gills and intestines (R² = 0.86). In gills, very low levels of increasing CAT may not have a distinct influence on the overall detoxification process in P. viridis. The decreasing activity of GPx was possibly because both CAT and GPx acted on the same substrate, while CAT was the first responder to reduce peroxides to water, as evident from the multi-correlation analysis showing a strong negative correlation between CAT and GPx. Overall, our study could have important implications in the biomonitoring of marine mussels exposed to plastic-attached toxic pollutants. Full article

The immune system plays a crucial role in defending the body against foreign invaders, and the balance of various polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), can impact immune cell functions and overall immune responses. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of mussel oil extracts in modulating inflammatory responses by analysing their effects on immune cell lines and cytokine expression. Four different mussel oil extracts were obtained using two extraction methods (organic solvent and supercritical CO₂ extraction) from two tissue sources (fresh and commercial). These extracts were then tested at various concentrations on T lymphocyte (Jurkat) cells, monocytes, and macrophages (THP-1 and U-937). Cytokine levels were quantified using ELISA. The results showed that the solvent-extracted samples had a dose-dependent effect on tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) cytokine secretion in THP-1 and U937 cells, with the extract from a commercial mussel powder being more efficient than the extract from fresh powder. However, supercritical CO₂ samples showed elevated cytokine secretion levels despite their high omega-3 content. Furthermore, 100 ug/mL extract from fresh powder successfully reduced interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion while maintaining cell viability after stimulation. The study demonstrated that solvent-extracted mussel oil can effectively regulate cytokine secretion, modulate immune cell activation, and alleviate inflammation. These findings offer valuable insights into using mussel oil extracts to treat inflammatory disorders and enhance immune responses. Full article

Transport out of the water is one of the most challenging events for juvenile Perna canaliculus and can be a highly inefficient process, with many juveniles subsequently being lost following extended periods of emersion. Hardening techniques offer a possible method for reducing transport-related stress. In this study, different hardening treatments (short, long and intermittent sub-lethal emersion) were used to prepare ~1.2 mm P.canaliculus for transport (20 h) and subsequent reoxygenation stress during re-immersion (i.e., recovery). The oxidative stress responses, resettlement behaviour, respiration rates and survival of the mussels after transport and during recovery were all assessed. Short emersion (1 h) as a hardening treatment prior to transport did not cause major stress to the mussels, which maintained respiration at control levels, showed significantly stimulated antioxidant defences during recovery, showed greater resettlement behaviour and remained viable after 24 h of recovery. In comparison, the long and intermittent emersion treatments negatively impacted oxidative stress responses and affected the viability of the mussels after 24 h of recovery. This study showed that exposing juvenile P.canaliculus to a mild stress prior to transport may stimulate protective mechanisms, therefore eliciting a hardening response, but care must be taken to avoid overstressing the mussels. Improving the management of stress during the transport of juvenile mussels may be key to minimising mussel losses and increasing harvest production, and biomarkers associated with oxidative stress/antioxidant metabolism could be valuable tools to ensure emersion hardening does not overstress the mussels and reduce survival. Full article

Chondrocyte behavior is critical in osteoarthritis (OA) progression and cartilage deterioration. Recent studies have shown that green-lipped mussel (GLM) oil extracts obtained through solvent extraction can regulate cytokine secretion in cell lines, potentially reducing inflammation and immune cell activation. This study investigates the effects of these extracts on human chondrocyte cell lines to understand their impact on osteoarthritis development. Chondrocyte cultures exposed to osteoarthritis-related inflammatory factors were treated with various concentrations of GLM oil. The results revealed that mussel oils, particularly a commercial mussel powder extract (SOLV.COM), enhance glucose uptake and protect chondrocyte cells. SOLV.COM effectively manages the release of inflammatory markers like interleukin-6 (IL-6) and matrix metalloproteinases-3 (MMP-3), showing increased deoxyglucose uptake. This study highlights the significant influence of extract choice on managing interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion and cellular activation pathways, demonstrating the potential of SOLV.COM in managing osteoarthritis by controlling reactive oxygen production, regulating glucose metabolism, and inflammatory markers. Full article

The green-lipped mussel Perna viridis’ sensitive nature and characteristic as a benthos organism that filters the sediment in its environment make it one of the possible bioindicators for pollution in the aquatic ecosystem. The present study aimed to determine the percentages of total shell deformities in comparison to the past data in the coastal waters of Peninsular Malaysia. It was found that several types of discontinuous, continuous, and unexplained shell abnormalities contributed to the overall range of shell deformities of 15.8–87.5%, which was greater in comparison to that (0.0–36.8%). The present study showed that the highest overall proportion of shell abnormalities occurred in Teluk Jawa, whereas the lowest percentages were found in Kampung (Kg.) Pasir Puteh. The regulative mechanisms at the well-known polluted sites at Kg. Pasir Puteh could be the explanation. Further research should be conducted to determine the degree of heavy metal that may be the source of these malformations in the mussel shells. Full article

Temperature is considered to be a major abiotic factor influencing aquatic life. Marine heatwaves are emerging as threats to sustainable shellfish aquaculture, affecting the farming of New Zealand’s green-lipped mussel [Perna canaliculus (Gmelin, 1791)]. In this study, P. canaliculus were gradually exposed to high-temperature stress, mimicking a five-day marine heatwave event, to better understand the effects of heat stress on the metabolome of mussels. Following liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analyses of haemolymph samples, key sugar-based metabolites supported energy production via the glycolysis pathway and TCA cycle by 24 h and 48 h of heat stress. Anaerobic metabolism also fulfilled the role of energy production. Antioxidant molecules acted within thermally stressed mussels to mitigate oxidative stress. Purine metabolism supported tissue protection and energy replenishment. Pyrimidine metabolism supported the protection of nucleic acids and protein synthesis. Amino acids ensured balanced intracellular osmolality at 24 h and ammonia detoxification at 48 h. Altogether, this work provides evidence that P. canaliculus has the potential to adapt to heat stress up to 24 °C by regulating its energy metabolism, balancing nucleotide production, and implementing oxidative stress mechanisms over time. The data reported herein can also be used to evaluate the risks of heatwaves and improve mitigation strategies for aquaculture. Full article

Unaccustomed eccentric exercise results in muscle damage limiting physical performance for several days. This study investigated if Greenshell™ mussel (GSM) powder consumption expedited muscle recovery from eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). Methods: Twenty untrained adult men were recruited into a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study and were randomly assigned to receive the GSM powder or placebo treatment first. Participants consumed their allocated intervention for four weeks then completed a bench-stepping exercise that induced muscle damage to the eccentrically exercised leg. Muscle function, soreness and biomarkers of muscle damage, oxidative stress and inflammation were measured before exercise, immediately after exercise and 24, 48 and 72 h post exercise. GSM powder promoted muscle function recovery, significantly improving (p < 0.05) isometric and concentric peak torque at 48 h and 72 h post exercise, respectively. Participants on the GSM treatment had faster dissipation of soreness, with significant treatment × time interactions for affective (p = 0.007) and Visual Analogue Scale-assessed pain (p = 0.018). At 72 h, plasma creatine kinase concentrations in the GSM group were lower (p < 0.05) compared with the placebo group. This study provides evidence for GSM powder being effective in supporting muscle recovery from EIMD. Full article

The present field-based study aimed to determine the levels of six potentially toxic metals (PTM)s (Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn determined using a flame atomic-absorption spectrophotometer) using transplanted green-lipped mussel Perna viridis from a polluted site at Kampung Pasir Puteh (KPP) to unpolluted sites at Kampung Sungai Melayu (KSM) and Sungai Belungkor (SB) in the Johore Straits (SOJ), and to estimate the human health risks of the PTMs after the depuration periods. Interestingly, after 10 weeks of depuration in the two unpolluted sites, there were 55.6–88.4% and 51.3–91.7% reductions of the six PTMs after transplantation from KPP to SB and KSM, respectively. Lower risks of health assessments were recorded and judged on the present findings of significantly (p < 0.05) lower levels of safety guidelines, significantly (p < 0.05) lower values of target hazard quotient, and significantly (p < 0.05) lower values of estimated weekly intake, of all the six PTMs after 10 weeks of depuration of the transplanted polluted mussels to the two unpolluted sites in the SOJ. Thus, further reducing the noncarcinogenic risks of the PTMs to the consumers. From an aquacultural point of view, this depuration technique can be recommended to reduce the health risks of PTMs to mussel consumers. Full article

Greenshell mussel (GSM- Perna canaliculus) is the most important aquaculture species in New Zealand and produces one of the most expensive bioactive lipid extracts on the nutraceutical market. There have been numerous studies on the composition of GSM as well as pre-clinical and clinical studies on the efficacy of GSM extracts and foods. With increases in analytical capabilities, lipidomic studies using advanced mass spectral data may provide new insight into the content and activity of the lipidome, the totality of all lipids, of GSM. This study is the first reported characterisation of the GSM lipidome which may disclose important novel information regarding its nutrition, biology, physiology, and epidemiology. This study adds to the traditional lipid analytical outputs with new lipidomic capabilities to interrogate the lipid species differences between tissues rich in oil. We have identified 16 different lipid species in GSM including ceramide aminoethyl phosphonate (CAEP). Many lipid species are differentially expressed between tissues and correlation analysis demonstrates lipid species associated with the digestive gland that may be obtained from food sources, whilst other lipid species are dominant in the mantle or gonad. Linking this new information to the GSM breeding programmes may deliver functional breeding attributes to deliver premium strains for enhanced nutrition and/or extract production. Full article

The present study aimed to confirm the use of the byssus (BYS) of the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis as a biomonitoring biopolymer for zinc (Zn) by comparing it to copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) pollution in coastal waters under experimental field conditions, based on the transplantation of caged mussels between polluted and unpolluted sites in the Straits of Johore (SOJ). Four important evidential points were found in the present study. First, the 34 field-collected populations with BYS/total soft tissue (TST) ratios > 1 indicated that the BYS was a more sensitive, concentrative, and accumulative biopolymer for the three metals than TST. Significant (p < 0.05) and positive correlations between BYS and TST in terms of the levels of the three metals were observed. Second, the data obtained in the present study were well-supported by the interspecific comparison, which indicated that the BYS of P. viridis was a significantly better biomonitoring biopolymer for the identification of coastal areas exposed to Zn, Cd, and Cu pollution and played the role of an excretion route of metal wastes. Third, the higher positive correlation coefficients for the metals between the BYS sedimentary geochemical fractions than the TST sedimentary geochemical fractions indicated that the BYS was more reflective of metal bioavailability and contamination in coastal waters. Fourth, and most importantly, the field-based cage transplantation study clearly indicated the accumulation and elimination of the three metals by the BYS in both polluted and unpolluted sites in the Straits of Johore. In sum, the BYS of P. viridis was confirmed as a better biopolymer than TST for Zn, as well as Cd and Cu, bioavailability and contamination in tropical coastal waters. Full article

Greenshell^TM mussels (GSMs), Perna canaliculus, are Aotearoa/New Zealand’s most important aquaculture species and is sold as a variety of food products worldwide. GSMs are a traditional and culturally valuable food of the Māori people. Following the development of a series of nutraceutical products (dried powders and extracted oils) by the GSM aquaculture industry in the 1960s, there has been an increased scientific interest in the clinical health benefits of GSM products. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in GSMs have exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity, and the clinical evidence has led to GSM powders and oils being extensively promoted as treatments for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. This review defines the nutritional composition of GSMs and describes the sustainability of GSMs and their traditional uses. The review also details the health benefits of GSMs in clinical applications and identifies potential mechanisms and molecular pathways initiated by the various bioactive components of GSMs. Full article

Providing benthic substrate is the most common method used for oyster reef restoration. The physical relief from the seabed, increased habitat complexity, and attachment surfaces have been shown to improve oyster health, recruitment, and survival. While the addition of shell material is an effective substrate for oyster restoration, its usefulness in mussel restoration has been understudied. This study tested the effectiveness of adding shell substrate to two different types of soft sediment for the restoration of adult green-lipped mussels. Over 10 t of shell was used to create a 10 cm layer on the seabed in replicated experimental plots at the two locations. 10 t of live adult mussels were deployed onto the shell substrate and an additional 10 t of mussels onto adjacent soft sediment control plots. A year after deploying the live mussels, mussel survival across all plots was 80.6 ± 6.5%, with no differences between mussel plots with or without the added shell substrate for either of the two locations. This study emphasizes the importance of context-dependency, revealing promising avenues for future research, and indicates that for adult green-lipped mussels the addition of a shell substrate appears to provide little advantage for adult mussel restoration at high deployment densities. Full article

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have wide-ranging environmental impacts, including on aquatic species of social and commercial importance. In New Zealand (NZ), strategic growth of the aquaculture industry could be adversely affected by the occurrence of HABs. This review examines HAB species which are known to bloom both globally and in NZ and their effects on commercially important shellfish and fish species. Blooms of Karenia spp. have frequently been associated with mortalities of both fish and shellfish in NZ and the sub-lethal effects of other genera, notably Alexandrium spp., on shellfish (which includes paralysis, a lack of byssus production, and reduced growth) are also of concern. Climate change and anthropogenic impacts may alter HAB population structure and dynamics, as well as the physiological responses of fish and shellfish, potentially further compromising aquatic species. Those HAB species which have been detected in NZ and have the potential to bloom and harm marine life in the future are also discussed. The use of environmental DNA (eDNA) and relevant bioassays are practical tools which enable early detection of novel, problem HAB species and rapid toxin/HAB screening, and new data from HAB monitoring of aquaculture production sites using eDNA are presented. As aquaculture grows to supply a sizable proportion of the world’s protein, the effects of HABs in reducing productivity is of increasing significance. Research into the multiple stressor effects of climate change and HABs on cultured species and using local, recent, HAB strains is needed to accurately assess effects and inform stock management strategies. Full article

It is a concern that microplastics have been discovered in the food sources and water that we consume. This research was to evaluate the methods to isolate microplastics from organisms and how much of the environment of New Zealand (NZ), which is one of the least polluted countries, is contaminated by microplastics. New Zealand green-lipped mussels (Perna canaliculus) are considered to be an important product in the NZ food industry. For this reason, the existence of microplastics in these were investigated. Tarakihi fish (Nemadactylusmacropterus) consume food near the bottom of ocean, so this fish can be an indicator of the contamination of microplastics denser than water. In addition, bottled water, tap water and sea salt samples were also investigated. To isolate solid particles in an animal body, its tissues were chemically digested. It was found that 10% (w/w) potassium hydroxide (KOH) was a practical digestive protocol on biological tissues since polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS) are relatively resistant to KOH. Thus, treating tissues with KOH can be considered a viable method to remove tissues and isolate microplastics. Nile red was used to stain the plastic particles from the samples for visual inspection. Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) was performed to identify the particles. It was evaluated that all those samples had traces of microplastics. Full article