Adaptive Responses in Byssal Growth and Shedding: Insights from <i>Pteria penguin</i> Under Thread Trimming and Non-Trimming Conditions
Bivalves use byssal threads for attachment and locomotion, periodically shedding and regenerating them. In the winged pearl oyster <i>Pteria penguin</i>—known for its strong byssus and its role in the pearl industry—shedding may occur when the byssal stalk reaches a critical size, althou...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/5/874 |
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| author | Hebert Ely Vasquez Shangkun Wei Guoliang Yang Lingfeng Wang Peixuan Yu Mingyue Dong Chao Yuan Xing Zheng |
| author_facet | Hebert Ely Vasquez Shangkun Wei Guoliang Yang Lingfeng Wang Peixuan Yu Mingyue Dong Chao Yuan Xing Zheng |
| author_sort | Hebert Ely Vasquez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Bivalves use byssal threads for attachment and locomotion, periodically shedding and regenerating them. In the winged pearl oyster <i>Pteria penguin</i>—known for its strong byssus and its role in the pearl industry—shedding may occur when the byssal stalk reaches a critical size, although the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study investigated whether artificial manipulation of the byssus (via trimming) could stimulate thread production and promote shedding in adult <i>P. penguin</i> from two size groups. Byssal threads attached to the substrate were trimmed every 3–5 days over a 30-day period and compared to untrimmed controls. Oysters with trimmed byssus produced significantly more threads, with smaller individuals outperforming larger ones in both thread count and byssal stalk diameter. Moreover, small oysters exhibited a higher frequency of complete byssal shedding. These findings suggest that trimming stimulates thread production and accelerates stalk thickening, potentially triggering shedding due to spatial constraints at the attachment site. This response appears to reflect an adaptive mechanism for maintaining effective attachment and may help explain how mechanical or environmental cues influence byssal dynamics. Understanding this process offers new insight into the behavioral and physiological plasticity of <i>P. penguin</i>, with potential applications in pearl oyster management and aquaculture. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1a9dd2c8d2a9491da8977e81d1594ed0 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2077-1312 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-1a9dd2c8d2a9491da8977e81d1594ed02025-08-20T03:14:36ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122025-04-0113587410.3390/jmse13050874Adaptive Responses in Byssal Growth and Shedding: Insights from <i>Pteria penguin</i> Under Thread Trimming and Non-Trimming ConditionsHebert Ely Vasquez0Shangkun Wei1Guoliang Yang2Lingfeng Wang3Peixuan Yu4Mingyue Dong5Chao Yuan6Xing Zheng7School of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaSchool of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaSchool of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaSchool of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaSchool of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaSchool of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaHaikou Marine Center of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Haikou 570100, ChinaSchool of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaBivalves use byssal threads for attachment and locomotion, periodically shedding and regenerating them. In the winged pearl oyster <i>Pteria penguin</i>—known for its strong byssus and its role in the pearl industry—shedding may occur when the byssal stalk reaches a critical size, although the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study investigated whether artificial manipulation of the byssus (via trimming) could stimulate thread production and promote shedding in adult <i>P. penguin</i> from two size groups. Byssal threads attached to the substrate were trimmed every 3–5 days over a 30-day period and compared to untrimmed controls. Oysters with trimmed byssus produced significantly more threads, with smaller individuals outperforming larger ones in both thread count and byssal stalk diameter. Moreover, small oysters exhibited a higher frequency of complete byssal shedding. These findings suggest that trimming stimulates thread production and accelerates stalk thickening, potentially triggering shedding due to spatial constraints at the attachment site. This response appears to reflect an adaptive mechanism for maintaining effective attachment and may help explain how mechanical or environmental cues influence byssal dynamics. Understanding this process offers new insight into the behavioral and physiological plasticity of <i>P. penguin</i>, with potential applications in pearl oyster management and aquaculture.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/5/874<i>Pearl oyster</i><i>Pteria penguin</i>thread trimmingbyssal regrowthstalk release |
| spellingShingle | Hebert Ely Vasquez Shangkun Wei Guoliang Yang Lingfeng Wang Peixuan Yu Mingyue Dong Chao Yuan Xing Zheng Adaptive Responses in Byssal Growth and Shedding: Insights from <i>Pteria penguin</i> Under Thread Trimming and Non-Trimming Conditions Journal of Marine Science and Engineering <i>Pearl oyster</i> <i>Pteria penguin</i> thread trimming byssal regrowth stalk release |
| title | Adaptive Responses in Byssal Growth and Shedding: Insights from <i>Pteria penguin</i> Under Thread Trimming and Non-Trimming Conditions |
| title_full | Adaptive Responses in Byssal Growth and Shedding: Insights from <i>Pteria penguin</i> Under Thread Trimming and Non-Trimming Conditions |
| title_fullStr | Adaptive Responses in Byssal Growth and Shedding: Insights from <i>Pteria penguin</i> Under Thread Trimming and Non-Trimming Conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adaptive Responses in Byssal Growth and Shedding: Insights from <i>Pteria penguin</i> Under Thread Trimming and Non-Trimming Conditions |
| title_short | Adaptive Responses in Byssal Growth and Shedding: Insights from <i>Pteria penguin</i> Under Thread Trimming and Non-Trimming Conditions |
| title_sort | adaptive responses in byssal growth and shedding insights from i pteria penguin i under thread trimming and non trimming conditions |
| topic | <i>Pearl oyster</i> <i>Pteria penguin</i> thread trimming byssal regrowth stalk release |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/5/874 |
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