Regulation of particle transport within the ventral groove of the mussel (Mytilus edulis) gill in response to environmental conditions

To thoroughly understand the feeding processes of the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, under the variable environmental conditions it experiences in natur e, it is important to examine individually the different components of its feeding system. The ciliated ventral food groove represents one of these co mponents, within which the majority of food particles trapped by the gill a re transported to the labial palps and mouth. Any ability of the mussel to adjust food transport rates within this groove could serve as an important feeding regulatory mechanism in response to variations in the environment. Mucous strand velocities in the ventral groove of the mussel, M. edulis, we re determined by video endoscopy over different time periods and during sho rt- and long-term manipulations of ambient particle concentration and tempe rature. Mucous strand velocity decreased with increasing ambient particle concentra tion at 14 degreesC, but a similar relationship was not observed at 5 degre esC. The data support the hypothesis that M. edulis possesses compensatory mechanisms to control particle transport at the level of the ventral groove cilia in response to changes in the environment. Furthermore, mucous stran d velocity in the ventral groove increased when the ambient temperature of mussels acclimated to 5 degreesC was increased to 15 degreesC during acute and long-term acclimation temperature experiments. This response is consist ent with standard physiological responses of ciliary systems to changes in temperature. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.