2015 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
Impacts of multi-specific blooms of harmful algae (HAB) on reproduction of bivalves
| Project/Area Number |
15H06219
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| Research Institution | Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology |
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Principal Investigator |
Leila Basti 東京海洋大学, その他部局等, 助教 (00758097)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2015-08-28 – 2017-03-31
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| Keywords | 再生産 / 二枚貝 / 赤潮 / 無脊椎 |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
The effects of several species of cosmopolitan harmful algal blooms on gametes and fertilization of Japanese pearl oysters were assessed. Several species of Alexandrium, both toxic and non-toxic strains, and of harmful raphidophytes of the world-widely distributed fish- and shellfish-killing Chattonella and Heterosigma on spermatozoa and eggs of pearl oysters were assessed, in mono-specifc experimental designs.Both toxic and non toxic Alexandrium species had mild to moderate negative effects on spermatozoa, eggs, and fertilization of Japanese pearl oysters. The raphidophytes, on the other hand, did not affect eggs and fertilized eggs, but spermatozoa and larvae of Japanese pearl oysters. Thes results are the first report of motility-induced negative effects of harmful raphidophytes to early developmental stages of an aquatic organism.
Part of the results of this research was submitted for publication in an international peer-reviewed journal. It went through the first round of review and was resubmitted for a final round of review.
Two manuscripts are being prepared from the data of the first year for submission to peer-reviewed international journals.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
A few drawbacks have been experienced at the start-up of the research.Indeed,the establishment of good mixed cultures of harmful algae without allelochemical effects, i.e.the lytic effects of some species of harmful algae upon others, has been particularly tricky.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
The plan for the second year is to continue the research as scheduled and to speed-up the analysis of samples produced from the first year. The multi-specific cultures will be tested for their effects on the early-life development of bivalve molluscs.
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