Reproduction disorders in the benthic amphipod Monoporeia affinis: an effect of low food resources

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of food availability on reproduction by comparing the response of reproductive biomarkers of a deposit-feeding amphipod Monoporeia affinis in 2 Swedish lentic environments (Lake Vänern and Lake Vättern) differing in eutrophication level, during the period between 1995 and 2002. In ultraoligotrophic Lake Vättern, a very low fecundity (living eggs female ) and the percent of females with dead broods were recorded. A significant negative correlation between fecundity and (1) undifferentiated eggs and (2) dead eggs and broods were obtained in both lakes. Amphipods collected in Lake Vättern in 2001 showed significantly lower concentrations of lipids -mainly triacylglycerols (TAG) -and of fatty acids (FAs) than amphipods collected in the more eutrophic Lake Vänern. Dramatically increased spring bloom diatom abundance in Lake Vättern resulted in increased fecundity and lipid and fatty acid concentrations (namely monounsaturated fatty acids, MUFA) and decreased embryo aberrations. A significant relationship between fecundity and diatom biovolume in Lake Vänern and total algal biovolume in Lake Vättern was found. No other alga taxa influenced the fecundity. In Lake Vättern total algal biovolume was negatively related to undifferentiated eggs. MUFA and saturated fatty acids (SFAs) seem to be important for vitellogenesis and oogenesis and also constitute fuel during embryogenesis. Other environmental variables in bottom waters (i.e. oxygen, pH and temperature) and sediment organic content did not influence the reproduction variables. Our findings strongly suggest a relationship between embryo aberrations (e.g. undifferentiated eggs and dead broods) and low food resources. KEY WORDS: Reproduction · Fatty acids · Embryo aberrations · Food deficiency · Monoporeia affinisResale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher OPEN PEN ACCESS CCESS

Embryo aberrations in the amphipod Monoporeia affinis as indicators of toxic pollutants in sediments: A field evaluation

“…affinis is semelparous, reaching sexual maturity in 1-4 years depending on environmental conditions (Lehtonen, 1996;Sundelin et al, 2008b;Wiklund et al, 2008). Lipids are accumulated in female gonads during the oogenesis, which takes place from early summer until early winter when mating occurs (Sundelin et al, 2008a). Gravid females carry developing embryos in a brood pouch (marsupium) until offspring are released in February-March.…”

“…Moreover, an increase in malformations and arrested development was observed in response to an oil spill (Elmgren et al, 1983). However, some aberrations, such as arrested development and dead broods, can also increase at higher temperature Sundelin, 2001, 2004) and in malnourished females (Sundelin et al, 2008a). Low oxygen concentrations may also increase frequency of dead broods Sundelin, 2001, 2004).…”

“…In particular, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals are known to cause multiple negative effects on benthic organisms (Long et al, 1995;Landrum et al, 2003;Martins et al, 2013). The PAH, PCB and metal effects, active feeding on organic material deposited in the sediment (Lopez and Elmgren, 1989) and high lipid content, and thus quality as prey for fish (Hill et al, 1992;Lehtonen, 1996;Sundelin et al, 2008a), make it a key ecological species and an important trophic link in the benthic-pelagic food webs. In the Swedish National Monitoring Program (SNMP), M. affinis is used as a sentinel species to monitor benthic community ecology and biological effects of contaminants (Sundelin et al, 2008b).…”

Review of the reproductive biology of amphipods and their endocrine regulation: Identification of mechanistic pathways for reproductive toxicants

“…animals with a continuous food supply containing omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids support high fecundity in the detritus-feeding amphipod Melita plumulosa [41]. On the contrary, seasonal limitation of essential omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and essential amino acids can reduce the fecundity and population abundances of the deposit-feeding amphipods Leptocheirus plumulosus and Monoporeia affinis in the field [42,43]. Vitellogenesis in the amphipod O. gammarella, involves two phases, primary and secondary vitellogenesis [40].…”

Metabolite Profiles in Starved Diporeia spp. Using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) Based Metabolomics

“…Filter feeding of the water column by dreissenids has substantially decreased the amount * Corresponding author; e-mail: mssepulv@purdue.edu of settling organic material to lake sediments (Vanderploeg et al, 2002;Nalepa et al, 2006). Thus, it is plausible that dreissenids are competing with Diporeia for the same food source, and that reduced food availability has contributed to Diporeia decline via starvation (Brett and Muller-Navarra, 1997;Nalepa et al, 2005;Watkins et al, 2007;Sundelin et al, 2008).…”