Low Oxygen Levels Slow Embryonic Development of Limulus polyphemus.
The American horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus typically spawns in the upper intertidal zone, where the developing embryos are exposed to large variations in abiotic factors such as temperature, humidity, salinity, and oxygen, which affect the rate of development. It has been shown that embryonic development is slowed at both high and low salinities and temperatures, and that late embryos close to hatching tolerate periodic hypoxia. In this study we investigated the influence of hypoxia on both early and late embryonic development in L. polyphemus under controlled laboratory conditions. Embryos were exposed to four different oxygen levels and their developmental stage was scored every second day. Embryos developed more slowly at both 5% O2and 10% O2than at the 21% O2treatment; late development was arrested when oxygen was reduced to 2%. Our study confims that L. polyphemus not only tolerates pronounced hypoxia in later embryonic developmental stages, but also in earlier, previously unexplored, developmental stages.
Peter
P
Funch
Tobias
T
Wang
Cino
C
Pertoldi
Ane Bruun
AB
Middelbo
D000818:Animals; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D006737:Horseshoe Crabs / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
D010100:Oxygen