The Influence of Bioactive Oxylipins from Marine Diatoms on Invertebrate Reproduction and Development

Diatoms are one of the main primary producers in aquatic ecosystems and occupy a vital link in the transfer of photosynthetically-fixed carbon through aquatic food webs. Diatoms produce an array of biologically-active metabolites, many of which have been attributed as a form of chemical defence and may offer potential as candidate marine drugs. Of considerable interest are molecules belonging to the oxylipin family which are broadly disruptive to reproductive and developmental processes. The range of reproductive impacts includes; oocyte maturation; sperm motility; fertilization; embryogenesis and larval competence. Much of the observed bioactivity may be ascribed to disruption of intracellular calcium signalling, induction of cytoskeletal instability and promotion of apoptotic pathways. From an ecological perspective, the primary interest in diatom-oxylipins is in relation to the potential impact on energy flow in planktonic systems whereby the reproductive success of copepods (the main grazers of diatoms) is compromised. Much data exists providing evidence for and against diatom reproductive effects; however detailed knowledge of the physiological and molecular processes involved remains poor. This paper provides a review of the current state of knowledge of the mechanistic impacts of diatom-oxylipins on marine invertebrate reproduction and development

Contrasting physiological responses to future ocean acidification among Arctic copepod populations

Widespread ocean acidification (OA) is modifying the chemistry of the global ocean, and the Arctic is recognized as the region where the changes will progress at the fastest rate. Moreover, Arctic species show lower capacity for cellular homeostasis and acid‐base regulation rendering them particularly vulnerable to OA. In the present study, we found physiological differences in OA response across geographically separated populations of the keystone Arctic copepod Calanus glacialis. In copepodites stage CIV, measured reaction norms of ingestion rate and metabolic rate showed severe reductions in ingestion and increased metabolic expenses in two populations from Svalbard (Kongsfjord and Billefjord) whereas no effects were observed in a population from the Disko Bay, West Greenland. At pHT 7.87, which has been predicted for the Svalbard west coast by year 2100, these changes resulted in reductions in scope for growth of 19% in the Kongsfjord and a staggering 50% in the Billefjord. Interestingly, these effects were not observed in stage CV copepodites from any of the three locations. It seems that CVs may be more tolerant to OA perhaps due to a general physiological reorganization to meet low intracellular pH during hibernation. Needless to say, the observed changes in the CIV stage will have serious implications for the C. glacialis population health status and growth around Svalbard. However, OA tolerant populations such as the one in the Disko Bay could help to alleviate severe effects in C. glacialis as a species

Spin labeling of ion exchange membranes

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Energetic cost of gonad development in Calanus finmarchicus and C-helgolandicus

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Growth and development of Calanus helgolandicus reared in the laboratory

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Egg production rates of Calanus helgolandicus females reared in the laboratory: variability due to present and past feeding conditions

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Is weight an important parameter when measuring copepod growth?

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Secondary production of Calanus helgolandicus in the Western English Channel.

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Comparison of five methods for estimating growth of Calanus helgolandicus later developmental stages (CV�CVI)

The activity of the enzymes aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARS) in adult females and males and copepodites stage V of Calanus helgolandicus was studied at the L4 time-series station in the English Channel from June 2002 to December 2003. AARS activity was explored as an index of somatic growth in the laboratory as well as in the field by comparison with other methods of measuring growth: (1) the direct method (Heinle in Chesapeake Sci 7:59�74, 1966), (2) the weight increment (WI) method, (3) the Hirst and Bunker (HB) equation (Limnol Oceanogr 48(5):1988�2010, 2003) and (4) the egg production (EPR) method. AARS activity showed a significant correlation with the direct measurement of growth in the laboratory (R 2=0.55). However, the correlation was lower for growth assessed either with the WI or the HB approaches in the field (R 2=0.05�0.17). Female AARS activity showed a positive correlation with specific EPR during the reproductive season (R 2=0.40) but no relationship was found during the non-reproductive period