Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2025, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (3): 121-129.doi: 10.11978/2024136CSTR: 32234.14.2024136

• Marine Biology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of environmental factors on larval settlement and metamorphosis of the fouling organism Mytilopsis sallei

DAI Li1(), PAN Huakang2, LIU Liyang2, HE Jian2, ZHAO Ke3, QI Jianfei4, ZHANG Zhen1, SU Pei2(), FENG Danqing2   

  1. 1. China Nuclear Power Engineering Co., Ltd., Beijing 100840, China
    2. College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
    3. Hainan Nuclear Power Co., Ltd., Changjiang 572733, China
    4. Fisheries Research Institute of Fujian, Xiamen 361000, China
  • Received:2024-06-13 Revised:2024-07-23 Online:2025-05-10 Published:2025-06-04
  • Contact: SU Pei
  • Supported by:
    National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFC3106004); High-quality Development of Marine and Fishery industry Project of Fujian(FJHYF-L-2023-14); Ocean Service and High-quality Development of Fishery Project of Fujian(FJHY-YYKJ-2023-1-5); The Project from China Nuclear Power Engineering Co., Ltd.(20223160A0857)

Abstract:

The false mussel Mytilopsis sallei is an important invasive fouling organism in the south of China, which often attaches to aquaculture facilities and causes fishery losses. In this study, the ecological single-factor gradient test was used to test larval settlement and metamorphosis of M. sallei under different salinities, water temperatures, light intensities and dissolved oxygen concentrations. The results showed that M. sallei larvae could settle and metamorphose at temperatures between 25℃~35℃. Low temperatures (10℃ and 15℃) significantly inhibited larval settlement and metamorphosis, while high temperature (40℃) caused the death of larvae. M. sallei larvae could settle and metamorphose under a wide salinity range (15‰~30‰), with the optimal salinity of 15‰. The suitable light intensity was 0’5000 lx, but when light intensity was higher than 10000 lx, larval settlement and metamorphosis were significantly inhibited. M. sallei larvae had a strong resistance capacity to low dissolved oxygen concentration. The suitable dissolved oxygen concentration for its settlement and metamorphosis was 40%’100% of saturated oxygen concentration (3.2’8.0 mg·L-1), but when the dissolved oxygen concentration was lower than 20% (1.6 mg·L-1), larval settlement and metamorphosis were inhibited. This study revealed the suitable environmental conditions on larval settlement and metamorphosis of M. sallei, which is important for predicting its possible distribution in the coastal areas of China and preventing its invasion to other areas of China to cause aquaculture industry losses.

Key words: Mytilopsis sallei, marine fouling organism, invasive species, environmental factors, settlement and metamorphosis

CLC Number: 

  • X714