Postcapture depuration of essential metals in the deep sea hydrothermal mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus

Postcapture depuration of essential metals in the deep sea hydrothermal mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus is studied. The aim is to assess the essential metal loss from various tissues of the hydrothermal bivalve B. azoricus over 30 days of depuration period. Animals are collected at the Menez-Gwen hydrothermal vent site. The results show that under natural conditions at the Menez-Gwen hydrothermal vent, Fe is the most strongly accumulated metal, followed by Zn. The highest metal concentrations are detected in the digestive gland and gills. It is revealed that mucus produced by B. azoricus plays an important role in the depuration of metal. The results conclude that depuration of essential metal in B.azoricus is slower than the extent reported for nonhydrothermal species. It is revealed that small mussels have higher concentrations of essential metals and tend to lose Fe and Cu more rapidly than larger mussels.