title: Susceptibility of gametes and embryos of the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, to Karenia brevis and its toxins.
abstract: The bivalve mollusc, Crassostrea virginica, is frequently exposed to blooms of Karenia brevis along the west coast of Florida during periods of spawning and early larval development. A continuous 4-day exposure of gametes and 2-4 cell stage embryos of C. virginica to whole-cell and culture filtrate of K. brevis at 500 and 5000 cells mL(-1), was followed by a 4-day 'recovery' period. Larval growth, percent of normal, abnormal and dead larvae, and the presence of food in the larval gut were measured throughout the exposure period. Results suggest that negative effects mainly occur during embryogenesis and early development. Damage to feeding apparatus/gut may occur during embryonic development or exposure to toxins may act as a feeding deterrent on non-toxic algae. Following 2-h in vitro exposure of gametes, differences in oocyte and sperm cell parameters were investigated using flow cytometry. The reduced sperm viability in the whole-cell 5000 cells mL(-1) treatment suggests the involvement of extracellular brevetoxins (PbTx) and perhaps other harmful, uncharacterized compounds associated with the K. brevis cell membrane. The cumulative effects of reduced sperm viability, fertilization success, embryonic and larval survival, and the near-annual exposure to blooms of K. brevis could cause significant bottlenecks on oyster recruitment.
authors.affiliation: Florida Gulf Coast University, College of Arts and Sciences, 10501 FGCU Blvd South, Fort Myers, FL 33965, USA; LEMAR CNRS UMR 6539, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer - Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Place Nicolas Copernic, Technopôle Brest Iroise, 29280 Plouzané, France. Electronic address: annerolton@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rolton
authors.affiliation: LEMAR CNRS UMR 6539, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer - Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Place Nicolas Copernic, Technopôle Brest Iroise, 29280 Plouzané, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soudant
authors.affiliation: Florida Gulf Coast University, College of Arts and Sciences, 10501 FGCU Blvd South, Fort Myers, FL 33965, USA; LEMAR CNRS UMR 6539, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer - Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Place Nicolas Copernic, Technopôle Brest Iroise, 29280 Plouzané, France.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vignier
authors.affiliation: Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236, USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.affiliation: Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, 1080 Shennecossett Road, Groton, CT 06340, USA.
authors.forename: Sandra E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Shumway
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences and Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, Rutgers University, 6959 Miller Avenue, Port Norris, NJ 08349, USA.
authors.forename: V Monica
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Bricelj
authors.affiliation: Florida Gulf Coast University, College of Arts and Sciences, 10501 FGCU Blvd South, Fort Myers, FL 33965, USA.
authors.forename: Aswani K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Volety
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D049896:Crassostrea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology; D004064:Digestive System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000469:parasitology; D004141:Dinoflagellida / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000469:parasitology; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects; D004987:Ethers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D060851:Gulf of America; D057097:Harmful Algal Bloom / Q000502:physiology; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000469:parasitology; D035964:Oxocins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D011108:Polymers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000469:parasitology; D000095702:Polyether Toxins
chemical_list: D004987:Ethers; D008387:Marine Toxins; D035964:Oxocins; D011108:Polymers; C489035:brevenal (polyether); C546611:brevetoxin 2; D000095702:Polyether Toxins; C502852:brevetoxin 3, Karenia brevis; C053342:brevetoxin
keywords: Brevetoxin; Crassostrea virginica; Development; Gametes; Karenia brevis