1. Effects of the toxic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis cf. ovata on survival, feeding and reproduction of a phytal harpacticoid copepod
- Author
-
Guidi-Guilvard Laurence, Gasparini Stéphane, Ternon Eva, Olivier P. Thomas, Rostan Julie, Lemée Rodolphe, Pavaux Anne-Sophie, Marro Sophie, Espaces et Sociétés (ESO), Institut de Géographie et d'Aménagement Régional de l'Université de Nantes (IGARUN), Université de Nantes (UN)-Université de Nantes (UN)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Rennes 2 (UR2), Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-AGROCAMPUS OUEST, Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Université d'Angers (UA)-Université de Caen Normandie (UNICAEN), Normandie Université (NU)-Normandie Université (NU)-Le Mans Université (UM), Laboratoire d'océanographie de Villefranche (LOV), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de la Mer de Villefranche (IMEV), Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Côte d'Azur (UCA), Université de Caen Normandie (UNICAEN), Normandie Université (NU)-Normandie Université (NU)-Le Mans Université (UM)-Université d'Angers (UA)-AGROCAMPUS OUEST-Université de Rennes 2 (UR2)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Géographie et d'Aménagement Régional de l'Université de Nantes (IGARUN), Université de Nantes (UN)-Université de Nantes (UN), Géoazur (GEOAZUR 7329), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, and COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,biology ,010604 marine biology & hydrobiology ,[SDE.MCG]Environmental Sciences/Global Changes ,fungi ,Dinoflagellate ,Zoology ,Marine invertebrates ,[SDV.TOX.TCA]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Toxicology/Toxicology and food chain ,Aquatic Science ,biology.organism_classification ,Fecundity ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Algal bloom ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Diatom ,chemistry ,Palytoxin ,14. Life underwater ,Marine toxin ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Copepod ,ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS ,[SDV.EE.IEO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology, environment/Symbiosis - Abstract
Harmful algal blooms are a source of increasing concern within the health, economic and ecological sectors. In the Mediterranean Sea, severe blooms of the benthic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis cf. ovata have been occurring since the beginning of the century, causing human intoxications by inhalation of bio-aerosols or direct contact with cells. The toxicity of this dinoflagellate is attributed to the presence of palytoxin and several of its analogs called ovatoxins, palytoxin being one of the most potent marine toxins. While mass mortalities of marine invertebrates have already been reported in relation with O. cf. ovata blooms, the toxic effects of this dinoflagellate on benthic organisms is still poorly documented. In the present study, laboratory experiments were performed on a meiobenthic copepod ( Sarsamphiascus cf. propinquus ), which naturally lives on macrophytes in close contact to O. cf. ovata, in order to assess its potential toxic effects on mortality, fecal pellet production (as a proxy of feeding), as well as fecundity and fertility ratios. Both, O. cf. ovata as well as a non-toxic competitive diatom (Licmophora paradoxa) , were used as food in the experiments. Regarding acute toxicity evaluation, this copepod proved to be the most tolerant organism to O. cf. ovata reported to date. Nevertheless, its fecundity and fertility ratios were lower when fed with the toxic dinoflagellate, indicating a possible reprotoxic effect. Moreover, although fecal pellet production decreased significantly when the copepod was fed with a mono-diet of O. cf. ovata, epifluorescence microscopy observations revealed the presence of the toxic cells inside the digestive track, hence suggesting that these primary grazers could be a vector of toxins through the marine food web.
- Published
- 2019