Meeting Abstract

118.2  Saturday, Jan. 7  Metal Accumulation and Sublethal Effects in the Sea Anemone, Aiptasia pallida>, After Waterborne Exposure to Metal Mixtures BROCK, J.R.*; BIELMYER, G.K.; Valdosta State University; Valdosta State University jrbrock@valdosta.edu

Metal contamination frequently occurs in marine environments, mainly due to anthropogenic inputs, yet the effects of metals on symbiotic cnidarians are largely understudied. To address this issue and to further understand the impact of elevated metal concentrations on marine symbiotic organisms, a toxicity study was performed using the model sea anemone, Aiptasia pallida. A. pallida were exposed to a control or a metal mixture (Cu, Zn, Ni, and Cd) at three exposure levels (10, 50, and 100 µg/L) for 7 d. Anemones were then transferred to clean seawater for an additional 7 d after the metal exposure to assess metal depuration and recovery. Accumulation of copper, zinc, nickel, and cadmium and the corresponding effects on enzyme activity (catalase, glutathione reductase, and carbonic anhydrase), protein concentration, and algal cell density were measured at 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 d. Metal accumulation in A. pallida occurred in a time and concentration dependent manner throughout the experiment. Additionally, enzyme activity and algal cell density were significantly affected and corresponded to the accumulated metal. Metal depuration and physiological recovery was dependent on both the metal and the exposure concentration. Understanding how A. pallida and their symbionts respond to mixed metal exposures in the laboratory may allow better understanding about how symbiotic cnidarians respond in metal polluted aquatic environments.