Can Exposure to Gymnodinium Catenatum Toxic Blooms Influence the Impacts Induced by Neodymium in Mytilus Galloprovincialis Mussels? What Doesn't Kill Can Make Them Stronger?

29 Pages Posted: 3 Nov 2023

See all articles by Marta Cunha

Marta Cunha

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Alessandro Nardi

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Maria João Botelho

Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera

Sabrina Sales

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Eduarda Pereira

Universidade de Aveiro

Amadeu M.V.M. Soares

Universidade de Aveiro - Department of Biology

Francesco Regoli

Polytechnic University of Marche

Rosa Freitas

Universidade de Aveiro - Department of Biology

Abstract

The presence in marine shellfish of toxins and pollutants like rare earth elements (REEs) poses a major threat to human well-being, coastal ecosystems, and marine life. Among the REEs, neodymium (Nd) stands out as a widely utilized element and is projected to be among the top five critical elements by 2025. Gymnodinum catenatum is a phytoplankton species commonly associated with the contamination of bivalves with paralytic shellfish toxins. This study evaluated the biological effects of Nd on the mussel species Mytilus galloprovincialis when exposed to G. catenatum cells for fourteen days, followed by a recovery period in uncontaminated seawater for fourteen days. After co-exposure, mussels showed similar toxin accumulation in the Nd and G. catenatum treatment in comparison with the G. catenatum treatment alone. Increased metabolism and enzymatic defenses were observed in organisms exposed to G. catenatum cells, while Nd inhibited enzyme activity and caused cellular damage. Overall, this study revealed that the combined presence of G. catenatum cells and Nd, produced positive synergistic effects on M. galloprovincialis biochemical responses compared to G. catenatum alone, indicating that organisms' performance may be significantly modulated by the presence of multiple co-occurring stressors, such those related to chemical pollution and harmful algal blooms

Keywords: Multiple stressors, harmful algal blooms, Marine toxins, Rare Earth Elements, Bivalves, recovery

Suggested Citation

Cunha, Marta and Nardi, Alessandro and Botelho, Maria João and Sales, Sabrina and Pereira, Eduarda and Soares, Amadeu M.V.M. and Regoli, Francesco and Freitas, Rosa, Can Exposure to Gymnodinium Catenatum Toxic Blooms Influence the Impacts Induced by Neodymium in Mytilus Galloprovincialis Mussels? What Doesn't Kill Can Make Them Stronger?. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4622346 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4622346

Marta Cunha

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

Alessandro Nardi

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

Maria João Botelho

Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera ( email )

Sabrina Sales

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

Eduarda Pereira

Universidade de Aveiro ( email )

Amadeu M.V.M. Soares

Universidade de Aveiro - Department of Biology ( email )

Francesco Regoli

Polytechnic University of Marche ( email )

Rosa Freitas (Contact Author)

Universidade de Aveiro - Department of Biology ( email )

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