Author(s)

Dmitry F. Pavlov¹, Jacques Bezuidenhout², Marina V. Frontasyeva^3*, Zoya I. Goryainova³

¹I. D. Papanin Institute of the Biology of Inland Waters, Borok, Russian Federation.
²Faculty of Military Science, Physics Department, Stellenbosch University, Saldanha, South Africa.
³Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Moscow Region, Russian Federation.

contents of 23 trace elements (Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Sb, I, Ba, La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Hf, Ta) were quantitatively determined in soft tissues and shells of mass non-indigenous bivalve mussels—farmed Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) and farmed and wild invasive Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) at the Atlantic coast of South Africa. The study revealed that the contents of the majority of elements in the soft tissues of both species were higher than those in the shells. The tissues of wild invasive Mediterranean mussels contain higher levels of a range of trace elements comparing to farmed mussels. The tissues of Pacific oysters contain much higher levels of almost all elements studied compared to the tissues of Mediterranean mussels. Higher content of zinc in the mussels and oysters from Saldanha Bay may evidence anthropogenic pollution of the bay’s ecosystem by this metal, which necessitates continued monitoring of levels of potentially toxic metals. Both alien species, and especially Pacific oysters, may serve as reliable biomonitors for trace elements in marine ecosystems. Both species are rich in essential elements and provide nutritionally-valuable seafoods.

Invasive Bivalve Mollusks, Chemical Composition, Crassostrea gigas, Mytilus galloprovincialis, Aquaculture, Water Quality, South Africa

Pavlov, D. , Bezuidenhout, J. , Frontasyeva, M. and Goryainova, Z. (2015) Differences in Trace Element Content between Non-Indigenous Farmed and Invasive Bivalve Mollusks of the South African Coast. American Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 6, 886-897. doi: 10.4236/ajac.2015.611084.