Meeting Abstract

31.3  Jan. 5  Carotenoids accumulated in intertidal mussels as a potential response to oxidative stress PETES, L.E.**; MENGE, B.A.; Oregon State University; Oregon State University petesl@science.oregonstate.edu

Globally, marine invertebrates are under increasing stress due to steadily rising water and air temperatures. High temperatures and desiccation lead to oxidative stress, especially in the stressful high zone of the rocky intertidal. Carotenoid pigments can be used to defend organisms from tissue-damaging oxygen radicals. Monthly field surveys of mussel pigmentation were conducted at intertidal sites on the Oregon coast. Mytilus californianus from the high and low zones were dissected, and gonad coloration was assessed. At all sites and during all months, females from both zones had orange gonads; males in the high zone also had orange gonads, while males in the low zone had white or peach gonads. Carotenoid pigmentation was highest for individuals immediately prior to spawning. Spectrophotometry and HPLC analyses revealed that orange pigmentation was a result of high carotenoid content in gonadal tissue. Levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were quantified to determine if oxidative stress was occurring in the high-zone mussels. Since carotenoids are used to protect tissue from oxidative stress, it is possible that mussels in the high zone accumulate carotenoids in order to protect their gametes from oxidative damage.