Testing microbial pathogens as a cause of early juvenile mortality in wild populations of benthic invertebrates

Sandee, SD; Hamme, Jonathan D. Van; Gosselin, LA

doi:10.3354/meps11975

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…EBP B. glandula were collected as described by Sandee et al (2016). Small (5−10 cm diameter) rocks were collected from the intertidal zone and cleared of all small barnacles, and a perimeter was marked around the cleared area with nail polish before returning the rocks to the intertidal zone.…”

Section: Study Site and Species Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of initial energy reserves in stress tolerance thresholds during the early benthic phase in intertidal invertebrates

Mendt

Gosselin

2022

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Although depleted energy reserves are not a major direct cause of early benthic phase mortality for many species of marine invertebrates, initial energy reserves might nevertheless play a role in early benthic phase mortality through indirect effects on physiological tolerance thresholds, a mechanism that has not been tested. We therefore examined the extent to which energy reserves affect acute tolerance thresholds of early benthic phase individuals of 2 species (Balanus glandula and Nucella ostrina) to 2 of the most challenging intertidal stressors: desiccation and high emersion temperature. Energy reserve levels were estimated by maintaining individuals without food for different durations of time or using individuals of different body mass. Individuals in each energy level treatment were then exposed to a range of desiccation periods and emersion temperatures. Lower estimated energy levels had no effect on tolerance to emersion temperature, but did significantly reduce the ability to tolerate desiccation. This suggests the survival of individuals through the early benthic phase is likely dependent on initial energy content through an indirect effect on tolerance to desiccation. Also, habitats experiencing intense desiccation likely impose a selective pressure on intertidal invertebrates favoring the evolution of greater energy reserves at the onset of the early benthic phase. These findings suggest depleted energy reserves at the onset of the early benthic phase can influence early benthic phase mortality through indirect effects by making individuals more vulnerable to environmental stressors. In this way, energy reserves may impact recruitment rates and thus influence population dynamics and intertidal community structure.

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Section: Study Site and Species Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of initial energy reserves in stress tolerance thresholds during the early benthic phase in intertidal invertebrates

Mendt

Gosselin

2022

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…Juvenile barnacles (B. glandula and C. dalli) were collected as described by Sandee et al (2016) and Hamilton & Gosselin (2020). Small rocks (5-10 cm diameter) were gathered from the intertidal zone and brought to the laboratory where all small settlers were dislodged under a dissecting microscope, and a perimeter was marked on the rock around the cleared area with nail polish.…”

Section: Study Site and Collection Of Animalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recruitment rates of benthic marine invertebrates are highly variable and can heavily impact the abundance and distribution of adult populations (Connell, 1985;Hunt & Scheibling, 1998;Miller & Waldbusser, 2016;Stoner, 1990). This is largely due to high rates of mortality during the first few days of independent benthic life (Ellien et al, 2000;Gosselin & Qian, 1997;Guillou & Tartu, 1994;Hadfield, 1986;Hunt & Scheibling, 1997;Keough & Downes, 1982;Osman et al, 1989;Thorson, 1966), a period identified as the early benthic phase (EBP) that encompasses early juvenile life and may also include premetamorphic larval life (Sandee et al, 2016). In addition, EBP mortality rates are highly variable not only among species, but also among and within cohorts of the same species (Gosselin & Qian, 1996;Jarrett, 2000;Jarrett & Pechenik, 1997;Phillips, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of depleted initial energy reserves in early benthic phase mortality of six marine invertebrate species

Mendt

Gosselin

2021

Ecology and Evolution

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Insufficient energy reserves are widely considered to be a primary factor contributing to high rates of early benthic phase mortality among benthic marine invertebrates, but this hypothesis has been based mostly on indirect, observational evidence, and remains largely untested. We therefore examined the role of initial energy reserves in regulating survivorship and growth during the early benthic phase. Recently settled or hatched individuals of six invertebrate species were collected from natural populations, maintained without food, and their survivorship was monitored. Contrary to expectations, starved individuals of all six species had high survivorship through the critical first 10 days of the early benthic phase, with half of the species experiencing <2% mortality, and the remaining three species experiencing only 6%–12% mortality. For five of the six species, 50% mortality was reached only after ≥50 days of starvation. Additionally, no difference in short‐term survivorship was detected among starved individuals of three different size classes (a proxy for energy reserves) of N . ostrina hatchlings. Finally, the effect of different durations of delayed feeding (0–50 days) on recovery (i.e., growth and survivorship) once food was made available revealed that duration of starvation prior to feeding can nevertheless have significant longer‐term impacts on the proportion of individuals that survive or their ability to grow. Together, these findings suggest that depleted energy reserves are not a primary cause of high mortality at the start of the early benthic phase, as had previously been hypothesized. Levels of energy reserves did influence growth, however, suggesting a possible indirect influence on performance by leaving individuals vulnerable for longer periods.

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Ontogenetic shifts and interspecies variation in tolerance to desiccation and heat at the early benthic phase of six intertidal invertebrates

Hamilton¹,

Gosselin²

2020

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Testing microbial pathogens as a cause of early juvenile mortality in wild populations of benthic invertebrates

Cited by 3 publications

References 51 publications

Role of initial energy reserves in stress tolerance thresholds during the early benthic phase in intertidal invertebrates

Role of initial energy reserves in stress tolerance thresholds during the early benthic phase in intertidal invertebrates

Role of depleted initial energy reserves in early benthic phase mortality of six marine invertebrate species

Ontogenetic shifts and interspecies variation in tolerance to desiccation and heat at the early benthic phase of six intertidal invertebrates

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