Meeting Abstract
P3.124 Monday, Jan. 6 15:30 Comparative toxicity of antifouling coatings on the larval development of the sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla . THOMAS, W.H.*; FUNG, J.K. ; THOMAS, F.I.; University of Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology; University of Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology; University of Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology hoaka.thomas@me.com
Urban development in the watershed of Kāneʻohe Bay, Hawaiʻi has been increasing since the 1920’s. Runoff, introduced species, dredging and other anthropogenic activities have ecologically changed the bay. Increasing human population of the region has led to a great increase in recreational use of the bay, accompanied by a large expansion of boat ownership and yacht harbors. The use of antifouling (AF) coatings is common among boaters. The main focus of this study was to examine the extent to which antifouling coatings affect development of larvae of T. gratilla . Three commercial marine coatings containing one of three AF compounds, cuprous oxide, cuprous thiocyanate or zinc, were applied to applicator sticks. After drying, solutions of soluble compounds from the coatings were made by soaking the coated sticks in filtered seawater for two days. Test solutions were made by serial dilutions of the coating treated water. Urchin embryos were allowed to develop for three days in 10 mL of onshore, offshore, control seawater and diluted AF solutions. These experiment revealed that larvae are sensitive to AF materials even when highly diluted. Across trials, larvae in the cuprous oxide treatment showed the highest rate of normal development (70%) at a dilution of 1×10 -23 . Results of the onshore and offshore water treatments revealed that offshore bay water allowed higher rates of normal development compared to water collected at onshore locations. This may mean that there is continual leaching of toxic AF chemicals into the bay, creating a water quality gradient, with lowest water quality in onshore areas where most boats are moored.
