Filter Feeding and Carbon and Nitrogen Assimilation of a Freshwater Bivalve (Unio douglasiae) on a Toxic Cyanobacterium (Microcystis aeruginosa)
Applied Sciences-Basel
Authors : Soon-Jin Hwang,Yun-Ju Lee,Min-Seob Kim and Baik-Ho Kim
ISSN : 2076-3417
Abstract
We investigated the possible intake of toxic cyanobacteria (Microcystis aeruginosa) as a nutrient resource for a filter-feeder bivalve
(Unio douglasiae) based on the measurement of feeding and assimilation rates of carbon and nitrogen in a limited space with no
current for 72 h using 13C and 15N dual isotope tracers. With high clearance rates, the unionid rapidly removed Microcystis cells
within 24 h, but only a small amount of carbon and nitrogen were incorporated into the tissues. Even with the low assimilation rates,
the mussels showed more favorable uptake of carbon than of nitrogen from toxic Microcystis water, and of tissues, the gills and gut
accumulated more carbon and nitrogen than the muscle and mantle. Collectively, our findings indicate that although Unio douglasiae
effectively uptake toxic Microcystis cells, they can assimilate only low amounts of nutrients into tissues within three days, despite a
non-flowing system.
Keyword : assimilation,carbon,filter-feeder,nitrogen,stable isotope,Unio douglasiae,uptake,toxic Microcystis
Link : https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199294
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