In response to accidental oil spills at sea, chemical oil dispersants are utilized to limit negative impacts on nearby littoral zones. However, current evidence suggests that such dispersants may be toxic to aquatic organisms. Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) and giant scallops (Placopecten magellanicus) were exposed to different environmentally relevant concentrations of oil dispersant and their behavioural responses were closely monitored using high frequency (10Hz) valvometry. Behavioural valve responses included rapid closures when oil dispersant was added to the experimental tanks. At higher concentrations, the mussels remained closed throughout the exposure period. The giant scallop displayed escape behaviours (clapping) prior to mortality, suggesting toxicity of the oil dispersant. Relationships between different behavioural indicators and oil dispersant concentrations were observed for both species, but with different trends. While scallops demonstrated positive correlations between gaping behaviours and dispersant concentration, mussels exhibited a concentration threshold beyond which the gaping behaviour was characteristic of longer closure periods. This study highlights behavioural response differences consistent with bivalve-specific biological traits: the continuous valve closure of an intertidal species, M. edulis, firmly attached to the substrate, and the escapement behaviours of a semi-mobile subtidal species, P. magellanicus. From these observations, it appears that valvometry could be used as a tool for environmental assessments.

为了应对海上意外漏油事件，化学油分散剂被用来限制对附近沿海地区的负面影响。但是，目前的证据表明这种分散剂可能对水生生物有毒。蓝贻贝（Mytilus edulis）和扇贝（Placopecten magellanicus）暴露于与环境有关的不同浓度的油分散剂，并使用高频（10Hz）阀门测速仪密切监测其行为响应。行为阀门的响应包括当向实验罐中添加油分散剂时迅速关闭。在较高浓度下，贻贝在整个暴露期间保持封闭状态。巨大的扇贝在死亡之前表现出逃逸行为（拍手声），表明该油分散剂具有毒性。观察到两种物种的不同行为指标与油分散剂浓度之间的关系，但趋势不同。扇贝显示出张开行为与分散剂浓度之间呈正相关，贻贝表现出浓度阈值，超过该阈值时，封闭行为表现出较长的封闭时间。这项研究突出了与双壳类特定生物学特征一致的行为反应差异：潮间带物种的连续瓣膜关闭，M.贻贝，牢固地附着到基材上，和一个半移动潮下物种，擒纵行为P. magellanicus。从这些观察结果来看，阀值法可以用作环境评估的工具。