Impacts of multi-specific blooms of harmful algae (HAB) on reproduction of bivalves

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15H06219
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Aquatic bioproduction science
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Leila Basti 東京海洋大学, 学術研究院, 助教 (00758097)
• Research Collaborator: NAGAI Kiyohito
• Project Period (FY): 2015-08-28 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: Harmful Algal Blooms / Japanese pearl oyster / Reproduction / Karenia spp. / Chattonella marina / H. circularisquama / Alexandrium spp.

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In previous studies, we have shown that several species of harmful algae affect the early-life development of Japanese pearl oyster, Pinctada fucata martensii. In the present study, the effects of HAB species forming multi-specific blooms in the culture area of Japanese pearl oyster on 1 day-old, 6 day-old, and 16 day-old larvae were tested. Larvae were affected by exposure to H. circularisquama, C. marina or K. mikimotoi. Mixed blooms of K. mikimotoi and K. papilionacea, K. mikimotoi and C. marina, H. circularisquama and C. marina and, H. circularisquama, C. marina and K. mikimotoi differentially affected the three stages of larvae with increased sensitivity with elder larvae. This is the first study to examine effects of multispecific bloom-forming species of harmful algae on reproduction of a representative bivalve mollusc. The effect reported warrant further investigation.

Free Research Field

Harmful Algal Blooms