title: Algal toxin impairs sea lion memory and hippocampal connectivity, with implications for strandings.
abstract: Domoic acid (DA) is a naturally occurring neurotoxin known to harm marine animals. DA-producing algal blooms are increasing in size and frequency. Although chronic exposure is known to produce brain lesions, the influence of DA toxicosis on behavior in wild animals is unknown. We showed, in a large sample of wild sea lions, that spatial memory deficits are predicted by the extent of right dorsal hippocampal lesions related to natural exposure to DA and that exposure also disrupts hippocampal-thalamic brain networks. Because sea lions are dynamic foragers that rely on flexible navigation, impaired spatial memory may affect survival in the wild.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuropolicy, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. Pinniped Cognition and Sensory Systems Laboratory, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA. pfcook@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Peter F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: Pinniped Cognition and Sensory Systems Laboratory, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA.
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reichmuth
authors.affiliation: Pinniped Cognition and Sensory Systems Laboratory, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Rouse
authors.affiliation: Dynamic Memory Lab, Center for Neuroscience, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA.
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Libby
authors.affiliation: AnimalScan Advanced Veterinary Imaging, Redwood City, CA 94063, USA.
authors.forename: Sophie E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Dennison
authors.affiliation: Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA.
authors.forename: Owen T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Carmichael
authors.affiliation: AnimalScan Advanced Veterinary Imaging, Redwood City, CA 94063, USA.
authors.forename: Kris T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Kruse-Elliott
authors.affiliation: AnimalScan Advanced Veterinary Imaging, Redwood City, CA 94063, USA.
authors.forename: Josh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bloom
authors.affiliation: Dynamic Memory Lab, Center for Neuroscience, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA.
authors.forename: Baljeet
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: The Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito, CA 94965, USA.
authors.forename: Vanessa A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Fravel
authors.affiliation: The Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito, CA 94965, USA.
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: AnimalScan Advanced Veterinary Imaging, Redwood City, CA 94063, USA.
authors.forename: Jim J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Stuppino
authors.affiliation: Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL 60605, USA.
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Van Bonn
authors.affiliation: The Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito, CA 94965, USA.
authors.forename: Frances M D
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Gulland
authors.affiliation: Dynamic Memory Lab, Center for Neuroscience, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA.
authors.forename: Charan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ranganath
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005068:Eutrophication; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D046070:Sea Lions / Q000502:physiology*; D065852:Spatial Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D013788:Thalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008387:Marine Toxins; D009498:Neurotoxins; C012301:domoic acid; D007608:Kainic Acid