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The Adaptive Morphology of Byssus in Mytilus coruscus, Crenomytilus grayanus, and Modiolus modiolus (Mytilidae, Bivalvia) from the Sea of Japan

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Abstract

The adaptation of sessile bivalves to the attached mode of life has been studied using three common mytilid species, Mytilus coruscus, Crenomytilus grayanus, and Modiolus modiolus. This study has shown similar features of organization of byssus and some of its structures associated with their functional significance in these bivalves. Myt. coruscus has the shortest and thickest byssal threads with the largest, reinforced attachment disks, which indicates the species’ adaptation to a habitat in the coastal zone with active hydrodynamics. In contrast, the threads of C. grayanus and Mod. modiolus are thinner, longer, and smaller in size, with weakly reinforced attachment disks, which is evidence that these species have adapted to biotopes sheltered from direct wave action.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author is grateful to D.V. Fomin (Center for Collective Use, Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences) for his assistance in operation of the Carl Zeiss Evo 40 scanning electron microscope.

Funding

This study was supported by the Russian Science Support Foundation. This work was supported partly by the award of the Malacological Society of London.

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  1. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690041, Vladivostok, Russia

    E. E. Vekhova

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Correspondence to E. E. Vekhova.

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Conflict of interest. The author declares that she has no conflict of interest.

Statement on the welfare of animals. All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

Letter designations in Figs. 1, 2, and 4 are as follows: bt, byssal threads; br, byssal root; c, cuffs; bs, byssal stem; ad, attachment disks; f, mussel’s foot; pf, proximal part of foot; df, dorsal part of foot; g, ventral foot groove; sl, stem lamellae forming the core; z, zone of transition from distal to proximal part of the byssal thread; de, distal end of the byssal thread; pe, proximal end of the byssal thread; lc, longitudinal cord; ec, external cuticle; cfb, strong bundles of collagen fibers; efb, elastic collagen fibers; dp, disk plate; ac, anterior cord; pc, posterior cord; ltc, lateral cord; c, cavity; frs, furrows of a smaller order; os, opposite side of the byssal thread; ce, corrugated edge; lfr, longitudinal furrow; tfr, transverse furrow; tfd, transverse fold.

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Vekhova, E.E. The Adaptive Morphology of Byssus in Mytilus coruscus, Crenomytilus grayanus, and Modiolus modiolus (Mytilidae, Bivalvia) from the Sea of Japan. Biol Bull Russ Acad Sci 46, 1030–1044 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359019090188

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