Mersch, J., L. Léglize, N. Czembor and J. C. Pihan,  1996.      Dreissena polymorpha: a Multi-function Indicator Organism,  Université de Metz, France

Abstract from The Sixth International Zebra Mussel and Other Aquatic Nuisance Species Conference, Dearborn, Michigan, March 1996

Dreissena polymorpha: a Multi-function Indicator Organism

The zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, has been employed as a test organism in various fields of environmental contamination assessment. This species fulfills a number of basic criteria required for an indicator organism: it is sedentary, widespread over the European and North-American continents, readily available the whole year, easy to handle, resistant to pollution and living in a close contact with its ambient environment through filter-feeding. The different tools developed with this species can be classified according to the type of pollution (acute, sub-acute, chronic) to be monitored and the delay required to obtain a reliable response.

• Information about long-term effects of chronic exposure to adverse environmental conditions is obtained with:
• allometric descriptors (condition indices)
• histological descriptors (gonadic index)
• physiological descriptors (scope for growth)
• biotests (reattachment)

The zebra mussel has been abundantly used as a passive and active biomonitor to quantify the bioavailability of specific trace pollutants in the water column, e.g. heavy metals, organotins, organochlorines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and radionuclides. More recently, attempts have been made to detect environmental genotoxicity as a whole using a direct cytological method (micronucleus test) and an indirect standardized test procedure (Ames test) with mussel extracts. Bioaccumulation studies provide short-term or long-term indications depending on the sampling design and/or the exposure duration of the organisms.

• Very rapid responses to acute and sub-acute toxicity can be obtained with zebra mussels used as:
• biosensors (early warning systems based on valve movements and filtration activity)
• biomarkers (subcellular stress indication)

This overview aims to show that very different aspects of environmental contamination can be accurately monitored with a single multi-function indicator organism by selecting the most appropriate descriptors.

Key Words: Zebra_mussel, Ecological_interactions, Population_dynamics
Product Type: Publication, Proceedings
User Type: Resource_Management