The dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum affects development of the oyster Crassostrea gigas, through parental or direct exposure

Type Article
Date 2019-03
Language English
Author(s) Castrec Justine1, Hegaret HeleneORCID4, Alunno-Bruscia MarianneORCID2, Picard Mailys1, Soudant Philippe4, Petton BrunoORCID2, Boulais Myrina1, 3, Suquet Marc2, Queau Isabelle2, Ratiskol Dominique2, Foulon ValentinORCID1, Le Goic Nelly4, Fabioux Caroline1
Affiliation(s) 1 : IFREMER, CNRS, UMR 6539, UBO,IRD,LEMAR,IUEM, Rue Dumont dUrville, F-29280 Plouzane, France.
2 : IFREMER, CNRS, UMR 6539, UBO,IRD,LEMAR,Ctr Bretagne, CS 10070, F-29280 Plouzane, France.
3 : Univ N Carolina, Ctr Marine Sci, 5600 Marvin K Moss Lane, Wilmington, NC 28409 USA.
Source Environmental Pollution (0269-7491) (Elsevier Sci Ltd), 2019-03 , Vol. 246 , P. 827-836
DOI 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.11.084
WOS© Times Cited 15
Keyword(s) Harmful algal bloom (HAB), Paralytic shellfish toxin (PST), Crassostrea gigas, Gametes, Larvae
Abstract

Harmful algal blooms are a threat to aquatic organisms and coastal ecosystems. Among harmful species, the widespread distributed genus Alexandrium is of global importance. This genus is well-known for the synthesis of paralytic shellfish toxins which are toxic for humans through the consumption of contaminated shellfish. While the effects of Alexandrium species upon the physiology of bivalves are now well documented, consequences on reproduction remain poorly studied. In France, Alexandrium minutum blooms have been recurrent for the last decades, generally appearing during the reproduction season of most bivalves including the oyster Crassostrea gigas. These blooms could not only affect gametogenesis but also spawning, larval development or juvenile recruitment. This study assesses the effect of toxic A. minutum blooms on C. gigas reproduction. Adult oysters were experimentally exposed to A. minutum, at environmentally realistic concentrations (102 to 103 cells mL−1) for two months during their gametogenesis and a control group, not exposed to A. minutum was fed with a non-toxic dinoflagellate. To determine both consequences to next generation and direct effects of A. minutum exposure on larvae, the embryo-larval development of subsequent offspring was conducted with and without A. minutum exposure at 102 cells mL−1. Effects at each stage of the reproduction were investigated on ecophysiological parameters, cellular responses, and offspring development. Broodstock exposed to A. minutum produced spermatozoa with decreased motility and larvae of smaller size which showed higher mortalities during settlement. Embryo-larval exposure to A. minutum significantly reduced growth and settlement of larvae compared to non-exposed offspring. This detrimental consequence on larval growth was stronger in larvae derived from control parents compared to offspring from exposed parents. This study provides evidence that A. minutum blooms, whether they occur during gametogenesis, spawning or larval development, can either affect gamete quality and/or larval development of C. gigas, thus potentially impacting oyster recruitment.

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Castrec Justine, Hegaret Helene, Alunno-Bruscia Marianne, Picard Mailys, Soudant Philippe, Petton Bruno, Boulais Myrina, Suquet Marc, Queau Isabelle, Ratiskol Dominique, Foulon Valentin, Le Goic Nelly, Fabioux Caroline (2019). The dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum affects development of the oyster Crassostrea gigas, through parental or direct exposure. Environmental Pollution, 246, 827-836. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.11.084 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00469/58099/