Meeting Abstract
Freshwater mussel conservation often requires the animals to be relocated to other habitats or brought into captive research facilities. Although critical to the success of this endeavor, knowledge of the impact of relocation on freshwater mussel health remains extremely limited. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of stress in captive and relocated mussels using metabolomics techniques. Freshwater mussels of the species Amblema plicata were collected from the Muskingum River in Washington Co., OH, in June 2012. Half of the mussels were brought into captivity inside the Freshwater Mussel Conservation and Research Center in Powell, OH and half were transported to Big Darby Creek in Franklin Co., OH. Hemolymph samples were taken in the wild immediately upon collection in June 2012 and subsequently in August and October 2012 and May and August 2013. The samples were analyzed on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry platforms. Biochemicals involved in energy and carbohydrate metabolism showed similar seasonal variation among all groups of mussels. The stress of relocation was evidenced in changes in polyamine and nucleic acid metabolism. While levels of metabolites involved in polyamine synthesis were elevated in the wild mussels later in the year, these same metabolites decreased or remained unchanged in both groups of relocated mussels. Similarly, metabolites indicative of nucleic acid turnover and degradation tended to increase in the wild mussels and decrease in the relocated mussels. The significantly lower levels of polyamine and nucleic acid metabolites suggests decreased cell growth and proliferation, which in the long-term may impair tissue maintenance and cause decreased rates of growth.
