Date of Award
2019
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Natural Sciences
First Advisor
Gilchrist, Sandra
Area of Concentration
Biology
Abstract
Red Tide causes extensive ecological and economic damage through massive marine deaths, water quality shifts and human illness. A contributor to the health of coastal ecosystems and economies, it’s important to understand how the Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica Gmelin) responds to red tide and its toxins. Studies on the chronic effects of Karenia brevis exposure on bivalve mollusks are increasing, but few have explored its short-term effects on Eastern Oyster feeding response. In this study, Eastern Oysters were fed Tetraselmis impellucida and Isochrysis galbana, starved for 48 hours, and exposed to Karenia brevis Low-Toxin and High-Toxin Wilson in a static environment. Water samples and gape observations were used to compare gape frequency and filtration rates between treatments. No significant difference in any measure was shown, suggesting no difference in short-term behavioral or physiological response by Crassostrea virginica Gmelin when exposed to K. brevis Low or High-Toxin Wilson.
Recommended Citation
Niedospial, Daniel Collins, "Comparative Effects of Acute Low and High-Toxin Red Tide (Karenia brevis Wilson) Exposure on Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica Gmelin) Feeding Response" (2019). Theses & ETDs. 5763.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/5763