1. The effects of red tide (Karenia brevis) on reflex impairment and mortality of sublegal Florida stone crabs, Menippe mercenaria.
- Author
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Gravinese PM, Kronstadt SM, Clemente T, Cole C, Blum P, Henry MS, Pierce RH, and Lovko VJ
- Subjects
- Animals, Florida, Reflex drug effects, Brachyura physiology, Dinoflagellida growth & development, Environmental Monitoring, Harmful Algal Bloom, Marine Toxins analysis
- Abstract
The Florida stone crab, Menippe mercenaria, is a major commercial fishery that occurs primarily along Florida's west coast, where harmful algal blooms of Karenia brevis frequently develop. To determine sublethal and lethal effects of K. brevis on M. mercenaria, we exposed sublegal stone crabs to three seawater treatments in laboratory conditions: no K. brevis (control), a low-toxin K. brevis strain (Wilson LT), and a toxic K. brevis (New Pass strain). Total food consumed, reflex impairment and survivorship of each crab was monitored throughout the nine-day experiment. Crabs in the toxic treatment consumed 67% less food. The probability of an individual losing a reflex significantly increased with time (days), and there was a 42% decrease in survivorship in the toxic treatment. This is the first study to demonstrate negative effects of K. brevis on the stone crab, presenting the critical need of further investigation to fully understand how red tide may impact sustainability of the fishery., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2018
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