Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) alter larval settlement of marine intertidal organisms across three phyla via reducing bacterial abundance on the biofilms.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been widely used as flame retardants over the last three decades, and are now ubiquitous in the marine environment. While the harmful effects of PBDEs on the abnormal development and reproductive impairment in mammals and fish are well documented, the effects on marine invertebrates remain virtually unknown. Using three model intertidal species accross three phyla, including the polychaete Hydroides elegans (Phylum Annelida), the gastropod Crepidula onyx (Phylum Mollusca), and the barnacle Balanus amphitrite (Phylum Arthopoda), this study demonstrated that (a) chronic exposure to BDE-47 (at spiking concentrations up to 1000 ng L(-1)) throughout the entire larval stage did not affect settlement, development or growth of all three species per se, despite bioaccumulation was clearly evident (measured body burden ranging from approximately 7000 to 13 000 ng BDE-47 g(-1) lipid), and (b) BDE-47, at measured concentrations of 15 and 113 ng g(-1) lipid, reduced the bacterial abundance in biofilms and resulted in a concomitant change in larval settlement pattern of all the model intertidal species across three phyla.
Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China. jillchiu@hku.hk
Jill M Y
JM
Chiu
Beverly H K
BH
Po
Christine Y S
CY
Chan
Michael H W
MH
Lam
Pei-Yuan
PY
Qian
Rudolf S S
RS
Wu
D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000528:radiation effects; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000528:radiation effects; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D010802:Phylogeny; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000633:toxicity*; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014872:Water Movements
D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; C511295:2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether