The aim of this work was to validate in the field certain measurement of the heart rate alterations of the bioindicator organism Mytilus galloprovicialis as a tool for ecotoxicological biomonitoring and assessment applications related to coastal and marine environment. The latter was determined by testing the mussels according to the method of functional loading (1-hour lowered salinity stress-exposure). The time of heart rate (HR) recovery (Trec) and the coefficient of HR variation (CVHR) in a group of tested animals were used as biomarkers for the assessment of their physiological state. It was found that the values of the biomarkers in mussels from our reference location were 1.3-1.5 times lower than in mussels from differently polluted coastal areas of the Bay. The study also included an investigation of the relationship between the mussel’s cardiac rhythm characteristics and the bioaccumulation of trace elements in their soft tissues, caused by chronic pollution. The conclusion was drawn that this approach to the physiological testing of mussels could be useful in developing a rapid and low-cost method for the assessment of the health of coastal ecosystems.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)631-643
Number of pages13
JournalChemistry and Ecology
Volume35
Issue number7
Early online date19 May 2019
DOIs
StatePublished - 9 Aug 2019

    Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Science(all)
  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)
  • Ecology

    Research areas

  • biological effects of pollution, heart rate variability, Marine coastal areas, Mytilus galloprovincialis, the Adriatic Sea, trace elements in tissues, CRAYFISH, COPPER, LIMPET PATELLA-VULGATA, RESPONSES, POLLUTION, CARDIAC ACTIVITY, HEART-RATE, MONITORING-SYSTEM

ID: 49709125