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Cited by 6Marine Toxins and Detection MethodsMarine and coastal ecosystemsMarine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies

Alexandrium Monilatum In The Lower Chesapeake Bay: Sediment Cyst Distribution And Potential Health Impacts On Crassostrea Virginica

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Pease, Sarah·2016·College of William and Mary - Virginia Institute of Marine Science
DOI 10.21220/v5c30t
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Abstract

The toxin-producing harmful algal bloom (HAB) species Alexandrium monilatum has long been associated with finfish and shellfish mortalities in the Gulf of Mexico. In the summer of 2007, A. monilatum re-emerged as a bloom-forming species in the Chesapeake Bay. Over the last decade, late summer blooms of A. monilatum have been expanding in range in the lower Chesapeake Bay and have reached record-high densities, particularly in the lower York River. This dinoflagellate species overwinters in the sediments as a resting cyst, and upon excystment under suitable environmental conditions produces blooms the following summer. The research presented here includes the first mapping and quantification of resting cysts of A. monilatum in surface sediments in the Chesapeake Bay using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays. A systematic grid sampling design was employed to collect pre-bloom sediments in the southwestern portion of the Chesapeake Bay each year from 2014-2016. Cysts were widespread in the bottom sediments and sediment cyst density increased from 2014-2016, reaching as high as 90,000 cysts/cc in the York River channel. A multiple linear regression was used to model cyst density using environmental parameters. Sediment type was a strong predictor of cyst density, with higher cyst densities found at sites with more fine sediments (silts and clays). Laboratory HAB toxicity bioassay methods were used to investigate potential adverse health impacts of A. monilatum on adult triploid eastern oysters, Crassostrea virginica. Oyster behavior and mortality were monitored and routine paraffin histology was performed to analyze tissue damage. Oysters did not exhibit mortality or tissue damage in a 48-hour fed toxicity bioassay. However, a 96-hour unfed toxicity bioassay led to 67% mortality, and erosion of the gill and mantle epithelial tissues in 94% of oysters exposed to A. monilatum (live cell or lysate). In the summer of 2015, oysters were deployed in the lower York River to assess effects of exposure before, during, and after a natural A. monilatum bloom. A subsample of six live oysters was collected weekly for two months and processed for histology. There was no mortality of deployed oysters, but minor epithelial erosion of the mantle was seen in half of the oysters sampled during the peak of the A. monilatum bloom from early to mid-August. Field and laboratory results showed that C. virginica did occasionally consume A. monilatum, and exposure of C. virginica to live A. monilatum or lysate could lead to epithelial erosion of external tissues and mortality. It is clear from the findings of this research that A. monilatum has established itself in the York River region of the Chesapeake Bay and that at least under laboratory conditions, persistent exposure to A. monilatum (live or lysate) can have serious potential health impacts on adult oysters.

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  • Chesapeake Bay populations of A. monilatum and M. polykrikoides produce cysts, a resting stage that ensures long-term survival and can seed future blooms.

    “Chesapeake Bay populations of A. monilatum and M. polykrikoides have been shown to produce cysts, a resting stage that ensures long-term survival and can seed future blooms (Seaborn and Marshall, 2008;Pease, 2016;Van Hauwaert, 2016).”

    From Current and Future Remote Sensing of Harmful Algal Blooms in the Chesapeake Bay to Support the Shellfish Industry (2020) · cites this paper as Pease, 2016

    The Discussion reports A. monilatum cysts in Chesapeake Bay sediments and says they may support blooms from year to year. The Introduction describes resting cysts as potential seed beds for future blooms. The cited paper does not establish the corresponding claim for M. polykrikoides, and its discussion of long-term dormancy draws on other dinoflagellates rather than demonstrating it for Chesapeake Bay A. monilatum. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • A. monilatum blooms have been measured at concentrations >10^8 cells/L and have intensified and expanded from the York River basin southwards to the Hampton Roads area and Virginia Beach coastline.

    “Blooms have been measured at concentrations > 10 8 cells•L -1 and have intensified and expanded from the York River basin southwards to the Hampton Roads area and Virginia Beach coastline (Pease, 2016;Robison, 2019).”

    From Current and Future Remote Sensing of Harmful Algal Blooms in the Chesapeake Bay to Support the Shellfish Industry (2020) · cites this paper as Pease, 2016

    The Introduction (page unavailable) reports bloom-patch densities above 200,000 cells/mL—more than 10^8 cells/L—and says blooms appear to originate near the York River mouth while their regional distribution seems to be increasing. It also reports unusually high recent York River concentrations. It does not establish expansion specifically southward to Hampton Roads and the Virginia Beach coastline, or explicitly describe that expansion as an intensification of blooms. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Extended exposure (>96 h) to both Alexandrium monilatum cells and cell extracts caused erosion to gill and mantle tissues in 94% of adult oysters and led to a 67% mortality rate.

    “Pease (2016) found that extended exposure (>96 h) to both A. monilatum cells and cell extracts caused erosion to gill and mantle tissues in 94% of adult oysters and led to a 67% mortality rate.”

    From Current and Future Remote Sensing of Harmful Algal Blooms in the Chesapeake Bay to Support the Shellfish Industry (2020) · cites this paper as Pease (2016)

    The Discussion (page unavailable) reports 67% mortality among adult oysters exposed to live A. monilatum cells or lysate in a 96-hour bioassay, not after more than 96 hours. The Additional information section (page unavailable) reports severe gill erosion in 79% and moderate mantle erosion in 63% of exposed oysters; it does not support the claimed 94% figure. (LLM, conf=0.91)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 31

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Authors
Pease, S.
Corresponding author
Pease, Sarah
ORCID
Pease, Sarah
Venue
College of William and Mary - Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Publisher
College of William and Mary - Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Published
2016
DOI
10.21220/v5c30t
OpenAlex
W2566251616
Cited by
6
References
0
Citations by year
2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • W&M Publish (College of William & Mary) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • William & Mary School of Arts & Sciences
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Marine Toxins and Detection Methods
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Marine and coastal ecosystems
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
Keywords
harmful algal blooms, resting cysts, Crassostrea virginica, oyster mortality, sediment grain size, Chesapeake Bay, York River, shellfish health, dinoflagellate cysts

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