New threat to aquaculture of marine mussels
This is about the bivalve mollusk, blue mussel Mytilus edulis.
Background
Marine mussels are a source of delicious and healthy food. Marine mussels are a staple of many seafood dishes in various cuisines including Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Belgian, and others …
They are cultivated as aquaculture.
The pictures of these mollusks, with the Latin name Mytilus edulis, are given below.
The life cycle of marine mussels is presented here:
The geographical range of this species is on the map:
Discovery, scientific innovation.
New research discovered a new threat to marine mussels. It was found [2-7] that the mussels decreased their water filtration rate under the effect of some synthetic chemicals that pollute seawater. The name of these organic chemicals is surfactants (surface active substances, surface active agents). The surfactants are the key foam-forming component of detergents and shampoos.
Additional scientific information.
More about the effects of surfactants see in the blogs [1], and in the scientific papers [2 – 7 ].
This post is the forth one, to continue the series of posts on environmental and ecological issues [1-3].
Mussels and cultural heritage: poetry
Marine mussels were mentioned in the song – the song that tells the fictional tale of a beautiful fishmonger :
- In Dublin’s fair city,
- Where the girls are so pretty,
- I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone,
- As she wheeled her wheel-barrow,
- Through streets broad and narrow,
- Crying, “Cockles and mussels, alive, alive,
- [“Molly Malone” (also known as “Cockles and Mussels” or “In Dublin’s Fair City“),
- a popular song, set in Dublin, Ireland,
- which has become the unofficial anthem of Dublin City]
A legend grew up that there was a lady Molly, who lived in the 17th century.
In some books, she is represented as a hawker by day and part-time prostitute by night [8].
In 1988 the Dublin Millennium Commission endorsed claims concerning a Molly Malone who died on 13 June 1699, and proclaimed 13 June to be “Molly Malone day” [8].
The Molly Malone statue:
The Molly Malone statue in Grafton Street (Dublin) was unveiled by Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alderman Ben Briscoe during the 1988 Dublin Millennium celebrations, declaring 13 June as Molly Malone Day.
This poem and song became really important.
Therefore, conservation and survival of this species of bivalve mollusks is important from various perspectives: not only for reasons of food but also for reasons of cultural heritage.
References (marine mussels Mytilus edulis were studied):
[1]
http://sergostroumov.scienceblog.com/2012/04/15/will-wars-of-future-be-related-to-modern-science-and-theories-of-ecology-key-issues-water-quality-scientific-fundamentals-achievements-discoveries-bibliography/;
http://sergostroumov.scienceblog.com/2012/04/14/discovery-of-the-key-role-of-organisms-that-filter-water-and-make-it-clear/;
**
[2] Inhibitory analysis of top-down control: new keys to studying eutrophication, algal blooms, and water self-purification. – Hydrobiologia, Vol. 469, No. 1. , pp. 117-129, [Improving water quality, sustainability, environment safety] http://www.scribd.com/doc/52598579/;
**
[3] An Amphiphilic Substance Inhibits the Mollusk Capacity to Filter out Phytoplankton Cells from Water. – Biology Bulletin, Vol. 28, No. 1. , pp. 95-102, doi:10.1023/A:1026671024000
**
[4] Studying effects of some surfactants and detergents on filter-feeding bivalves. – Hydrobiologia, Vol. 500, No. 1. , pp. 341-344, doi:10.1023/A:1024604904065;
**
[5] О биотическом самоочищении водных экосистем. Элементы теории. – Доклады Академии Наук (ДАН, Doklady Akademii Nauk). Vol.396. No. 1. p.136-141 : http://www.scribd.com/doc/83048698/, http://www.scribd.com/ar55/d/48099028, http://www.scribd.com/doc/57774996;
**
[6] Some aspects of water filtering activity of filter-feeders; In: Aquatic Biodiversity II, (edited by: H. Segers, K. Martens) Vol. 180, pp. 275-286, doi:10.1007/1-4020-4111-X_26;
**
[7] Also see: http://www.scribd.com/doc/59437439/;
[8] Siobhán Marie Kilfeather, Dublin: a cultural history, Oxford University Press US, 2005, p. 6.
Addition:
interesting posts on innovations in environmental science:
http://5bio5.blogspot.com/2012/05/normal-0-false-false-false-ru-x-none-x_03.html;
http://5bio5.blogspot.com/2012/04/environmental-science-key-bibliography.html;
http://5bio5.blogspot.com/2012/05/websites-on-scientific-activities-of.html;
http://5bio5.blogspot.com/2012/05/blog-post.html;
http://5bio5.blogspot.com/2012/05/discovery-of-inhibitory-analysis-in.html;
http://5bio5.blogspot.com/2012/05/aquatic-macrophyte-ceratophyllum.html;
http://5bio5.blogspot.com/2012/04/well-cited-article-inhibitory-analysis.html;
http://5bio5.blogspot.com/2012/05/innovative-contribution-to-solution-to.html;
http://5bio5.blogspot.com/2012/05/new-scientific-terminology-integral.html;
http://5bio5.blogspot.com/2012/05/monetary-estimate-of-good-scientific.html;
Discovery of the key role of organisms that filter water and make it clear
New facts on hazardous biological and toxic effects of surfactants and detergents: paradigm shifted
On the author: http://famous-scientists.ru/3732/
ecological, discoveries, 2012, science, terminological,
key words: New threat, aquaculture, marine mussels, blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, staple food, seafood, dishes, cuisines, pollution, detergents, surfactants, water quality, environmental toxicology, аквакультура, мидии, детергенты,