Chemical composition and morphology of the Mediterranean mussel, Black Sea coast of Russia

Mussels, whose soft tissues are used in food and are rich in high-quality protein, are essential in marine fisheries. Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lam) used to assesses the pollution level of a coastal marine zone due to exposure to local technological processes populate the metal piles of a pier built for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi Olympic Park. The chemical composition of mussel soft tissues (61 elements analyzed by the ICP method) indicates anthropogenic pollution of the coastal zone ecosystem, most pronounced in the 50-m zone along the coast due to run off from the terrestrial ecosystem affected by the Olympic construction. Line measurements of annual rings of 6-year-old individuals of mussels showed stabilization of the ecological situation in the coastalmarine zone by 2019. This study can be used for comprehensive ecological monitoring of coastal-marine zones with similar conditions and anthropogenic load.

Automated summary

This study investigates the pollution level of a coastal marine zone caused by the Olympic construction by analyzing the chemical composition of mussels' soft tissues. The findings show anthropogenic pollution in the coastal zone, most significant in the 50-meter zone along the coast. However, the ecological situation stabilizes by 2019. This research is crucial for comprehensive ecological monitoring in similar coastal-marine zones.