In situ experiment to evaluate biochemical responses in the freshwater mussel Diplodon chilensis under anthropogenic eutrophication conditions

An in-situ experiment was performed to study metabolic responses of the freshwater mussel Diplodon chilensis to water contaminated by leachates from an open dump and cattle activity, in order to analyze both the effects of those contaminants on aquatic environments and the potential use of a native bivalve to evaluate the effects of anthropic influence and eutrophication. Bivalves from a reference site were cage-transplanted to a control site (site A) and to a temporal water pond (site B) over 30 and 60 periods. Water quality analyses revealed that the site B was affected by anthropogenic influence. Mussel's hemocytes from site B showed 50% lower reactive oxygen species production and 130% higher lysosomal membrane stability in the site B mussels. In addition, no oxidative stress was evident in gills, despite the elevated copper and iron concentrations recorded in the site B water samples (CuB = 0.3350 ± 0.0636 mg. L−1vs. CuA = 0.0045 ± 0.0007 mg. L−1; FeB = 3.8650 ± 0.4031 mg. L−1vs. FeA = 0.0365 ± 0.0049 mg. L−1). In contrast, the adductor muscle accumulated more Fe (~10–20-fold) than the gills and showed signs of oxidative stress, e.g. superoxide dismutase activity and TBARS levels were increased by 10% were 34%, respectively, in the site B compared with the site A after 60 days of exposure. Additionally, the adductor muscle showed signs of anaerobic metabolism activation. Cu is accumulated in gills from both sites’ individuals, at 60 days, in concordance with the increase in the activity of the cu-containing enzyme cytochrome-c-oxidase. There was a reduction in the overall condition and digestive gland index in bivalves exposed at site B, associated with diminished levels of lipid and protein contents. Metal-pollution and eutrophication affects D. chilensis metabolism and is associated to tissue-specific exposure, anaerobic metabolism and general energetic condition depletion. •Metal-pollution and eutrophication affects D. chilensis metabolism.•There are evidences of a tissue-specific response with different metal accumulation.•There is an association between tissue-specific exposure and anaerobic metabolism.•The general energetic condition suffers depletion.