Meeting Abstract
Intertidal organisms, such as the porcelain crab, Petrolisthes cinctipes, are faced with rising temperature extremes that may interfere with their physiological performances. P. cinctipes inhabits the upper-mid intertidal zone and is regularly exposed during low tides. Increased abiotic stressors interfere with many aspects of this organisms’ physiology, including reproduction. Reproductive activity can be measured through the quantification of the yolk protein vitellogenin (Vg), found in hemolymph. Our development of an ELISA for P. cinctipes has allowed for quantification of hemolymph levels of Vg. Monthly observations indicated P. cinctipes up-regulate their Vg production during new moon periods and were depressed by the new moon. In addition, Vg sampling of P. cinctipes revealed that Vg levels are higher in fall and winter months, and low throughout early spring and summer. Decreased reproduction during summer months may be affected by temperature, day lengths, or both. To examine these factors, P. cinctipes, collected in both winter and summer months, were sampled for hemolymph Vg. Individuals were then divided into four treatments to test the effects of day length and temperature. After a two week exposure, another hemolymph sample was drawn. Both samples were analyzed by ELISA. Crabs exposed to thermal stressors from winter months had depressed levels of Vg, and crabs from summer months had sustained low levels of Vg. Day length appeared to have a lesser affect on Vg levels. This project is supported by NSF grant #1451423 to BT and JS.
