dc.contributor.author	Jarvis, Tayler Ann
dc.date.accessioned	2013-08-12T18:33:45Z
dc.date.available	2013-08-12T18:33:45Z
dc.date.issued	2013-08-12
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10428/1287
dc.description	The biology thesis, “Dietary Metal Toxicity to Marine Invertebrates,” by Tayler Ann Jarvis. Valdosta State University, July 2013.	en_US
dc.description.abstract	At elevated concentrations, marine organisms may accumulate metals, which can potentially cause toxicity. Metal accumulation and toxicity in aquatic organisms has focused largely on waterborne metal exposure and less research has focused on dietary metal exposure. In addition to dietary metal exposure, an important emerging class of contaminants within marine ecosystems is nanoparticles (NPs). This research investigated the accumulation and effects of dietary metals and NPs in marine invertebrates. Two seaweed species, Ulva lactuca and Agardhiella subulata, were each concurrently exposed to five metals (Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd, and Zn), and U. lactuca was also exposed to the metal mixture as well as each metal individually for 48 h. The seaweeds were then used as food for the sea hare, Aplysia californica. Body mass of A. californica was measured and metal concentration was quantified in dissected organs. Metal accumulation in the organs of A. californica varied with different metal species. A. californica demonstrated significantly reduced body weight by the end of the exposure periods, as compared to controls. In addition, the diatom, Thalassiosira weissflogii was exposed to ZnO NPs for 7 d and growth, zinc accumulation, and zinc distribution was measured within the algal cells. The ZnO-exposed diatoms were fed to the copepod, A. tonsa for 7 d and reproduction and survival were quantified. Zinc accumulation in the algae occurred dose-dependently over time. Feeding on ZnO-exposed diatoms led to a decrease in copepod survival and reproduction. These results highlight the significance of dietary metal exposure in lower trophic levels and support the use of A. californica as a sensitive bioindicator species of metal pollution in marine systems as well as provide evidence of trophic transfer of metal contaminants associated with metal oxide NPs within a marine plankton community leading to the reduction in individual demographic performance of an important coastal marine grazer.	en_US
dc.description.sponsorship	Gretchen K. Bielmyer, Russell H. Goddard, James A. Nienow, Thomas J. Manning,	en_US
dc.language.iso	en_US	en_US
dc.subject	Aquatic ecosytems	en_US
dc.subject	Ulva lactuca	en_US
dc.subject	Agardhiella subulata	en_US
dc.subject	Aplysia californica	en_US
dc.subject	Thalassiosira weissflogii	en_US
dc.subject	Biology	en_US
dc.subject	Metal accumulation	en_US
dc.subject	bionindicator species	en_US
dc.subject	coastal marine	en_US
dc.title	Dietary Metal Toxicity to Marine Invertebrates	en_US
dc.type	Thesis	en_US