Combined effects of ZnO nanoparticles and elevated temperature on bioenergetics of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis in different seasons

Increased ZnO nanoparticles (nZnO) from multiple sources have raised concerns about the potential toxic effects on the marine organisms living in estuarine and coastal environments. The toxicity of nZnO and its interaction by common abiotic stressors (such as elevated temperature) are not well understood for marine organisms. Therefore, we examined the Input of ZnO nanoparticles (nZnO) from multiple sources have raised concerns about the potential toxic effects on the marine organisms in estuarine and coastal environments. The toxicity of nZnO and its interaction with common abiotic stressors (such as elevated temperature) are not well understood in marine organisms. Therefore, we examined the bioenergetics and oxidative stress responses of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis exposed for 21 days to different concentrations of nZnO or dissolved zinc (Zn2+) (0, 10, 100 ug l-1) and two temperatures (normal and high temperature) in winter and summer. In this data set, we measured the tissue levels of energy reserves (including proteins, lipids and carbohydrates), electron transport system (ETS) activity, cellular energy allocation (CEA) as a integrative index of energy balance, and the accumulation of Zn and levels of the metal-binding proteins (metallothioneins) as markers for intracellular Zn accumulation in the mussels. Our study provides new insights into the bioenergetics mechanisms underlying the combined effects of elevated temperature and nZnO of M. edulis and has important implications for understanding the effects of warming on the mussels' populations from polluted estuaries and coastal zones