Cellular physiological effects of the MV Kyowa violet fuel‐oil spill on the hard coral, Porites lobata

Abstract

The grounding of the Merchant Vessel (MV) Kyowa Violet on a coral reef near Yap, Federated States of Micronesia, in December 2002 resulted in the release of an estimated 55,000 to 80,000 gallons of intermediate fuel oil grade 180. The immediate impact was the widespread coating of mangroves and the intertidal zone along more than 8 km of coastline. Of greater concern, however, was the partitioning of the fuel oil in the water column, leading to chronic exposure of organisms in the ecosystem for a considerable period after the initial event. Herein, we report on our examination of one coral species, Porites lobata, nearly three months after the initial exposure. We investigated whether changes in cellular physiology were consistent with the pathological profile that results from the interaction of corals with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, the principal constituent of fuel oil. Specifically, we document, to our knowledge for the first time, changes in the cellular physiological condition of an exposed coral population affected by a fuel-oil spill. We also provide evidence that the observed changes are consistent with a recent exposure to fuel oil, as evidenced by the presence of characteristic cellular lesions attributed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Finally, our data support a model for a mechanistic relationship between the cellular pathological profile of the coral and a recent petroleum exposure, such as the MV Kyowa Violet fuel oil spill.

The cellular stress response of the scleractinian coral Goniopora columna during the progression of the black band disease

“…These include, in addition to the Hsp70 and Hsp60, whose expression in pathogen-coral relationship has been recently explored (Seveso et al , 2015Brown et al 2013;Libro et al 2013;Brown and RodriguezLanetty 2015;Fuess et al 2016;Garcia et al 2016), an increased antioxidant response (HO-1 and MnSOD) that is indicative of oxidative stress. To date, cnidarian HO-1 and MnSOD have been investigated especially in relation to environmental abiotic stresses rather than to diseases (Fang et al 1997;Richier et al 2005Richier et al , 2008Downs et al 2006;Lesser 2011).…”

Ecological Risk Assessment of Munitions Compounds on Coral and Coral Reef Health

“…DNA was quantified with the Quant-iT ™ High Sensitivity DNA kit (Cat# Q33120, Life Technologies) using a Qubit ® fluorometer. DNA AP sites were quantified using the Dojindo DNA Damage Quantification Kit-AP Site (Cat# DK-02-12) and conducted according to the manufacturer's instructions, except for modifying the detection platform from the kit's colorimetric detection to chemiluminescence (Downs et al 2006;Downs et al 2011;May 2011).…”

Pulsed 86Sr-labeling and NanoSIMS imaging to study coral biomineralization at ultra-structural length scales

“…Porphyrin concentration was also measured for one unhandled control nubbin that had remained in the large aquarium with normal seawater. Coral whole cell lysates (WCL) and subcellular (S9) fractions were prepared from coral tissue removed by water-pik and spun at 4°C at 10,0009g for 10 min using a Sorvall RC-5B centrifuge, following Downs et al (2006). Pellets of tissue and cells were homogenized on ice for 1 min in filtered seawater containing 1 mM PMSF (Phenyl Methyl Sulfonyl Fluoride) and centrifuged at 2,0009g and 4°C for 5 min.…”

“…GST enzyme activity was expressed in nmol min -1 mg -1 protein. The porphyrin concentration in the coral S9 subcellular fraction was determined following the method of Downs et al (2006). Briefly, 100 lg of total soluble protein was diluted to 300 ll in Tris-HCl (pH 7.8) containing 5 mM EDTA.…”