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 nature, it is important to examine individually the different components of its feeding system. The ciliated ventral food groove represents one of these components, within which the majority of food particles trapped by the gill are 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, were determined by video endoscopy over different time periods and during short- and long-term manipulations of ambient particle concentration and temperature. Mucous strand velocity decreased with increasing ambient particle concentration at 14°C, but a similar relationship was not observed at 5°C. 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 strand velocity in the ventral groove increased when the ambient temperature of mussels acclimated to 5°C was increased to 15°C during acute and long-term acclimation temperature experiments. This response is consistent with standard physiological responses of ciliary systems to changes in temperature.