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Short-term effects of the heavy metals, Silver and copper, on polyps of the common jellyfish, Aurelia aurita

Short-term effects of the heavy metals, Silver and copper, on polyps of the common jellyfish, Aurelia aurita
Short-term effects of the heavy metals, Silver and copper, on polyps of the common jellyfish, Aurelia aurita

Heavy metals are prominent in the coastal marine environment, especially copper due to its use in anti-fouling paints and, increasingly, silver due to its use in manufacturing processes and hygiene products. Aurelia aurita is a common and widespread species of scyphozoan jellyfish found in many coastal habitats, including those impacted by human activities. While A. aurita is known to be highly tolerant of a wide range of environmental conditions including large variations in temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen, nothing is known about its tolerance to heavy metal pollution. This study examined the independent and interactive effects of copper and silver on aspects of polyp condition including budding, strobilation, deformities and mortality. The results show that 200 ?g Cu l? 1 is above the polyps' tolerance for this metal and leads to rapid mortality. When this treatment was excluded, silver had the greatest impact on polyp condition. All metals generally had a greater impact on polyp condition at higher concentrations. Combination treatments had a lesser effect than single-metal treatments, suggesting an antagonistic relationship. Copper reduced the detrimental impacts of silver when present at a high enough concentration. Despite reactions to the metals, mortality and deformity responses generally diminished over time. With budding being proportionally higher than mortality, and increasing over time, it is suggested that sub-lethal concentrations of metals could actually lead to population growth over time by the process of hormesis.
Asexual reproduction, Heavy metals, Hormesis, Jellyfish, Pollution
0022-0981
154-161
Lucas, Cathy H.
521743e3-b250-4c6b-b084-780af697d6bf
Horton, Alice A.
3b4dfc8c-2a5d-48c9-8c63-8a113a2a1bfe
Lucas, Cathy H.
521743e3-b250-4c6b-b084-780af697d6bf
Horton, Alice A.
3b4dfc8c-2a5d-48c9-8c63-8a113a2a1bfe

Lucas, Cathy H. and Horton, Alice A. (2014) Short-term effects of the heavy metals, Silver and copper, on polyps of the common jellyfish, Aurelia aurita. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 461, 154-161. (doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2014.08.003).

Record type: Article

Abstract


Heavy metals are prominent in the coastal marine environment, especially copper due to its use in anti-fouling paints and, increasingly, silver due to its use in manufacturing processes and hygiene products. Aurelia aurita is a common and widespread species of scyphozoan jellyfish found in many coastal habitats, including those impacted by human activities. While A. aurita is known to be highly tolerant of a wide range of environmental conditions including large variations in temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen, nothing is known about its tolerance to heavy metal pollution. This study examined the independent and interactive effects of copper and silver on aspects of polyp condition including budding, strobilation, deformities and mortality. The results show that 200 ?g Cu l? 1 is above the polyps' tolerance for this metal and leads to rapid mortality. When this treatment was excluded, silver had the greatest impact on polyp condition. All metals generally had a greater impact on polyp condition at higher concentrations. Combination treatments had a lesser effect than single-metal treatments, suggesting an antagonistic relationship. Copper reduced the detrimental impacts of silver when present at a high enough concentration. Despite reactions to the metals, mortality and deformity responses generally diminished over time. With budding being proportionally higher than mortality, and increasing over time, it is suggested that sub-lethal concentrations of metals could actually lead to population growth over time by the process of hormesis.

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More information

Published date: December 2014
Keywords: Asexual reproduction, Heavy metals, Hormesis, Jellyfish, Pollution
Organisations: Ocean and Earth Science

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 373983
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/373983
ISSN: 0022-0981
PURE UUID: 9501333e-d3f5-4c9e-8f23-8e4344a14046
ORCID for Cathy H. Lucas: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-5929-7481

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Date deposited: 30 Jan 2015 16:23
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 02:47

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Contributors

Author: Cathy H. Lucas ORCID iD
Author: Alice A. Horton

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