A1 Journal article (refereed)
Acute and chronic response to a change in salinity of the euryhaline polychaete Pygospio elegans (Claparède) (2019)
Thonig, A., Banta, G. T., Gibon, S., Kesäniemi, J., Hansen, W. B., & Knott, E. (2019). Acute and chronic response to a change in salinity of the euryhaline polychaete Pygospio elegans (Claparède). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 516, 79-88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2019.05.002
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Thonig, Anne; Banta, Gary Thomas; Gibon, Stéphane; Kesäniemi, Jenni; Hansen, Winding Benni; Knott, Emily
Journal or series: Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
ISSN: 0022-0981
eISSN: 1879-1697
Publication year: 2019
Volume: 516
Issue number: 0
Pages range: 79-88
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Publication country: Netherlands
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2019.05.002
Research data link: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-201905142558
Publication open access: Not open
Publication channel open access:
Additional information: Original data for this article, please see: https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/63919
Abstract
Estuaries are thought to be very harsh environments because their physico-chemical parameters, such as salinity, temperature and oxygen, can fluctuate substantially. The distribution of species living in an estuary is largely determined by how well they can cope with such fluctuations. The spionid polychaete Pygospio elegans is common in boreal estuarine habitats that show strong salinity fluctuations, living in habitats ranging from fully marine salinities to brackish environments with salinities as low as 5. In this study we investigated the abilities of P. elegans to cope with an acute as well as a long-term change in salinity. Specimens originating from a salinity of about 15 were exposed to salinity 15 as control and 5 and 30 as low and high salinity treatments. In acute exposure experiments, we measured body volume and tissue water content as well as gene expression of seven genes related to volume- and osmoregulation within 4 h of exposure. In a long-term experiment, we monitored survival, growth and reproduction as well as potential changes in DNA methylation within 6 weeks after a gradual salinity change. In response to abrupt exposure to a hyposmotic medium (salinity 5) we observed increased body volume that could not be fully restored, increased mortality, and no clear change in gene expression. Hence, P. elegans might be a weak cell-volume regulator that cannot cope well with sudden drops in salinity. In contrast, a gradual, long-term change in salinity seemed to be less stressful, although worms at salinity 5 showed slightly increased mortality and reduced or delayed maturity. Overall, there were fewer detrimental effects of exposure to a higher salinity. While the tested salinities fall within the tolerance range of P. elegans from this population, decrease in salinity seems to be a stronger stress.
Keywords: water content; Polychaeta; brackish water; salinity; tolerance (physical); RNA; gene expression
Free keywords: body volume; RNA expression; tolerance range; MS-AFLP
Contributing organizations
Related projects
- Larval polymorphism and evolutionary transitions in developmental mode
- Knott, Emily
- Research Council of Finland
Ministry reporting: Yes
VIRTA submission year: 2019
JUFO rating: 1