Learning impairment caused by a toxin produced by Pfiesteria piscicida infused into the hippocampus of rats

Levin, Edward D.; Blackwelder, W. P.; Glasgow, Howard B.; Burkholder, JoAnn M.; Moeller, P.; Ramsdell, John S.

doi:10.1016/s0892-0362(03)00011-4

Cited by 15 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Although we know little about the toxic effects of quinine, or whether it affects the way in which predators learn about the energetic and nutritional value of prey, there are a number of reports of other toxins having negative effects on learning (Dudai et al. 1987; Levin et al. 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predators' decisions to eat defended prey depend on the size of undefended prey

Halpin

Stachurski²,

Rowe³

2013

Animal Behaviour

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Predators that have learned to associate warning coloration with toxicity often continue to include aposematic prey in their diet in order to gain the nutrients and energy that they contain. As body size is widely reported to correlate with energetic content, we predicted that prey size would affect predators' decisions to eat aposematic prey. We used a well-established system of wild-caught European starlings, Sturnus vulgaris, foraging on mealworms, Tenebrio molitor, to test how the size of undefended (water-injected) and defended (quinine-injected) prey, on different coloured backgrounds, affected birds’ decisions to eat defended prey. We found that birds ate fewer defended prey, and less quinine, when undefended prey were large compared with when they were small, but that the size of the defended prey had no effect on the numbers eaten. Consequently, we found no evidence that the mass of the defended prey or the overall mass of prey ingested affected the amount of toxin that a predator was willing to ingest, and instead the mass of undefended prey eaten was more important. This is a surprising finding, challenging the assumptions of state-dependent models of aposematism and mimicry, and highlighting the need to understand better the mechanisms of predator decision making. In addition, the birds did not learn to discriminate visually between defended and undefended prey based on size, but only on the basis of colour. This suggests that colour signals may be more salient to predators than size differences, allowing Batesian mimics to benefit from aposematic models even when they differ in size.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predators' decisions to eat defended prey depend on the size of undefended prey

Halpin

Stachurski²,

Rowe³

2013

Animal Behaviour

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“…The controversial aspects have arisen at least in part because Pfiesteria is an “unconventional” organism, difficult to identify and culture, with a complex life cycle, complex nutrition, and complex interactions with other organisms, including fish and mammals (c.f. Burkholder, Glasgow, and Deamer‐Melia 2001a; Grattan et al 1998; Levin et al 2003). Additionally, because of its response to anthropogenically introduced nutrients and its potential impacts on marine resources and human health, it has maintained a high public as well as scientific visibility.…”

Section: Pfiesteria Spp Detection Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(c.f. Burkholder, Glasgow, and Deamer-Melia 2001a;Grattan et al 1998;Levin et al 2003). Additionally, because of its response to anthropogenically introduced nutrients and its potential impacts on marine resources and human health, it has maintained a high public as well as scientific visibility.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of the Dinozoans Pfiesteria piscicida and P. shumwayae: A Review of Detection Methods and Geographic Distribution¹

Rublee

Remington

Schaefer

et al. 2005

J Eukaryotic Microbiology

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Molecular methods, including conventional PCR, real-time PCR, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, fluorescent fragment detection PCR, and fluorescent in situ hybridization, have all been developed for use in identifying and studying the distribution of the toxic dinoflagellates Pfiesteria piscicida and P. shumwayae. Application of the methods has demonstrated a worldwide distribution of both species and provided insight into their environmental tolerance range and temporal changes in distribution. Genetic variability among geographic locations generally appears low in rDNA genes, and detection of the organisms in ballast water is consistent with rapid dispersal or high gene flow among populations, but additional sequence data are needed to verify this hypothesis. The rapid development and application of these tools serves as a model for study of other microbial taxa and provides a basis for future development of tools that can simultaneously detect multiple targets.

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“…As should be expected given the high known intraspecific variation in toxin production by Pfiesteria spp., there was no consistent effect of Pfiesteria strain (Levin et al, 2000) or culture filtrate versus wholecell culture (Levin et al, 1999). Levin et al (2003) also examined the effect of PfTxs on learning impairment by injecting purified PfTx into the hippocampus of rats, and then testing their memory using RAM. Bilateral infusion of the hydrophilic PfTx into the ventral hippocampus of rats caused persisting learning impairment, and the PfTx-induced deficit held throughout the 6-week test period.…”

Section: Rat Models and Cytotoxic Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxigenic Pfiesteria species—Updates on biology, ecology, toxins, and impacts

Burkholder¹,

Marshall²

2012

Harmful Algae

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Learning impairment caused by a toxin produced by Pfiesteria piscicida infused into the hippocampus of rats

Cited by 15 publications

References 28 publications

Predators' decisions to eat defended prey depend on the size of undefended prey

Predators' decisions to eat defended prey depend on the size of undefended prey

Detection of the Dinozoans Pfiesteria piscicida and P. shumwayae: A Review of Detection Methods and Geographic Distribution¹

Toxigenic Pfiesteria species—Updates on biology, ecology, toxins, and impacts

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Learning impairment caused by a toxin produced by Pfiesteria piscicida infused into the hippocampus of rats

Cited by 15 publications

References 28 publications

Predators' decisions to eat defended prey depend on the size of undefended prey

Predators' decisions to eat defended prey depend on the size of undefended prey

Detection of the Dinozoans Pfiesteria piscicida and P. shumwayae: A Review of Detection Methods and Geographic Distribution1

Toxigenic Pfiesteria species—Updates on biology, ecology, toxins, and impacts

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Detection of the Dinozoans Pfiesteria piscicida and P. shumwayae: A Review of Detection Methods and Geographic Distribution¹