Webcast of Metzger Thesis Defense on Clams and Acidification
Today David Metzger will be defending his Masters thesis entitled: Characterizing the effects of ocean acidification in larval and juvenile Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum, using a transcriptomic approach.
Anyone is welcome to attend in FSH 203 at 14:00 PDT (21:00 UTC) (countdown timer). There are also plans to broadcast the defense live online. If you would like to view online just click the play button below. We will be broadcasting various prelude video throughout the morning if you would like to test the feed. This broadcast is ad-supported (through Ustream) so you will see advertisements. If you have any problems, suggestions, or questions please leave them in the comments below.
To learn more about Dave’s research before (or after) the defense, please see his online lab notebook and explore our website: Ocean Acidification- Notes from the School of Aquatic and Fishery Science.
If you have any questions for Dave, feel free to leave them in the comments section below and if time allows, he will address them at his Defense.
Select Slides on Ocean Acidification Research in SAFS
#UW_OA Slides
Not looking good
In this study both hard clams and bay scallops were exposed to 4 pCO2 conditions that included 250, 390, 750, and 1500ppm. Larvae were obtained from a local hatchery in New York and cultured in 1 liter beakers at an approximate density of 0.2/ml. Larve were fed T-sio and twice weekly larvae were gently poured onto a 64 um mesh so condition could be assessed and water changed. To discourage growth of bacteria an antibiotic solution was add (5000 units of penicillin, 5 mg of streptomycin, and 10 mg of neomycin per mL of solution (Sigma 4083). This was added at each water change. Temperature was maintained at 24C. In addition to examining morphology and size, SEM was used and Nile Red stain for lipid analysis.
Both species had higher rates of metamorphosis, growth and survival at 250 ppm compared to other treatments. Hinges were compromised with elevated CO2 and related there was less lipid intake (hinges involved in opening shell / feeding). Generally these findings are in contradictions to some of preliminary work on the Pacific oyster. There is evidence of varying effects on different species.
CITATION: Stephanie C. Talmage and Christopher J. Gobler Effects of past, present, and future ocean carbon dioxide concentrations on the growth and survival of larval shellfish PNAS 2010 : 0913804107v1-200913804.
Additional Reading cited in this work.
8. Gazeau F, et al. (2007) Impact of elevated CO2 on shell!sh calci!cation. Geophys Res Lett 34:L07603:1-5.
9. Green MA, Jones ME, Boudreau CL, Moore RL, Westman BA (2004) Dissolution mortality of juvenile bivalves in coastal marine deposits. Limnol Oceanogr 49: 727-734.
10. Green MA, Waldbusser GG, Reilly SL, Emerson K, O’Donnell S (2009) Death by dissolution: Sediment saturation state as a mortality factor for juvenile bivalves. Limnol Oceanogr 54:1037-1047.
11. Kurihara H, Asai T, Kato S, Ishimatsu A (2008) Effects of elevated pCO2 on early development in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Aquat Biol 4:225-233.
12. Kurihara H, Kato S, Ishimatsu A (2007) Effects of increased seawater pCO on earkt development of the oyster Crassostrea gigas. Aquatic Biol 1:91-98
25. Miller AW, Reynolds AC, Sobrino C, Riedel GF (2009) Shellfish Face Uncertain Future in High CO2 World: Influence of Acidification on Oyster Larvae Calcification and Growth in Estuaries. PLoS ONE 4(5): e5661. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0005661
Elene and Emma on KUOW’s Morning Edition talking Ocean Acidification and oysters. Note there parts are very, very brief (though insightful) so you have to pay attention.
