In a sperm-transmitted mtDNA of Mytilus galloprovincialis we found an insertion that is not present in the typical genome and whose origin can be explained by a sequence of three events: a tandem duplication, a nonhomologous recombination, and a deletion. Unless such events are extremely rare in this species, the identical gene arrangement of the two gender-specific genomes should imply strong selection for same gene order and size.
Neodymium (Nd) and dysprosium (Dy) are among the most commonly used rare earth elements (REEs) worldwide, leading to their increased concentrations in aquatic environments, with potential impacts on organisms. Additionally, organisms are also subjected to environmental stressors, such as salinity shifts, which can not only directly impact their health but also modulate the impacts of contaminants. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of Nd and Dy on adult mussels and sperm of the species Mytilus galloprovincialis after 28 days and 30 min of exposure, respectively.
Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro 3810-193, Portugal; Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, Aveiro 3810-193, Portugal. Electronic address:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals known for their persistence and bioaccumulation, leading to widespread environmental contamination. Despite their recognised environmental risks, particularly to aquatic wildlife, including marine invertebrates, detailed impact studies are limited. PFAS can be categorised according to the length of the compound chain, with short-chain PFAS announced as a safer alternative to the more commonly used long-chain PFAS.
In this study; fourteen potentially toxic elements (PTEs) levels are measured in Mytilus galloprovincialis (MG) and in Rapana venosa (RV) intensively consumed in eight cities on the Black Sea coast of Türkiye. Additionally, human health risk levels from mollusks species consumption were assessed using multiple approaches and by Geographical Information Systems, spatial distribution map of PTEs of the region was prepared. The average PTEs levels in the two mollusks species are listed in the following order: Fe > Al > Zn > Cu > As > Mn > B > Cd > Se > Ni > Cr > Pb > Co > Hg with the levels of 114.
Human activity exposes organisms in marine ecosystems to numerous stressors, including rising seawater temperatures and antibiotic contamination. The present study investigated the impacts of environmentally relevant concentrations of the fluoroquinolone (FQ) antibiotic enrofloxacin (ENR), specifically 5 and 500 ng/L, in Mytilus galloprovincialis under ambient (20 °C) and predicted warming (25 °C) conditions after 14 days of exposure, followed by a 14-day recovery period in the absence of ENR. The chemical analyses revealed significant variability in bioaccumulation in mussel tissues.
