Grantee Research Project Results

Individual Level Indicators: Molecular Indicators of Dissolved Oxygen Stress in Crustaceans

EPA Grant Number: R829458C003
Subproject: this is subproject number 003 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R829458
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: EAGLES - Consortium for Estuarine Ecoindicator Research for the Gulf of Mexico
Center Director: Brouwer, Marius
Title: Individual Level Indicators: Molecular Indicators of Dissolved Oxygen Stress in Crustaceans
Investigators: Brouwer, Marius , Denslow, Nancy
Institution: University of Southern Mississippi
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: December 1, 2001 through November 30, 2005 (Extended to May 20, 2007)
RFA: Environmental Indicators in the Estuarine Environment Research Program (2000) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Water , Aquatic Ecosystems , Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration

Objective:

Increased nutrient loading into estuarine ecosystems may exacerbate naturally occurring diurnal fluctuations of dissolved oxygen (DO) and may result in chronic hypoxic conditions, which are one of the major factors responsible for declines in habitat quality. Despite the ecological importance of hypoxia, little is known about the sublethal effects of chronic hypoxia, or hypoxic → normoxic cycles on estuarine organisms, and we do not have indicators for recognizing populations that are suffering from chronic DO stress. The overall long-term objectives of this research project are to: (1) develop molecular indicators of DO stress (hypoxia and diurnal DO cycles) in blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus), penaeid shrimp, and grass shrimp; and (2) determine if the molecular signals can serve as predictive indicators of reduced fitness (molting and reproduction) in grass shrimp.

The objectives for Year 1 of the project are to: (1) develop DNA macroarrays and antibodies for use in detection of expression of DO stress proteins in C. sapidus, penaeid shrimp, and grass shrimp; (2) test the response of the molecular indicators to chronic hypoxia and diurnal DO cycles in C. sapidus and shrimp under controlled laboratory conditions; and (3) validate response of the DO stress indicators in C. sapidus, shrimp, and grass shrimp collected from DO-stressed and reference sites in the Mississippi Sound and the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserves.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this subproject: View all 27 publications for this subproject | View all 175 publications for this center

Journal Articles:

Journal Articles have been submitted on this subproject: View all 4 journal articles for this subproject | View all 52 journal articles for this center

Supplemental Keywords:

population, community, ecosystem, watersheds, estuary, Gulf of Mexico, nutrients, hypoxia, innovative technology, ecoindicators, biomarkers, water quality, remote sensing, global information system, GIS, integrated assessment, risk assessment, fisheries, conservation, restoration., RFA, Scientific Discipline, ECOSYSTEMS, Geographic Area, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Aquatic Ecosystems & Estuarine Research, Ecology, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, Ecosystem Protection, Aquatic Ecosystem, Aquatic Ecosystems, Ecological Effects - Environmental Exposure & Risk, Environmental Monitoring, Ecological Monitoring, Ecology and Ecosystems, Biology, Ecological Indicators, Gulf of Mexico, monitoring, ecoindicator, ecological exposure, molecular ecology, nutrient dynamics, estuaries, estuarine integrity, ecosystem assessment, crustaceans, hypoxia, ecological assessment, estuarine ecoindicator, environmental indicators, environmental stress, water quality, aquatic ecosystem restoration, dissolved oxygen

Progress and Final Reports:

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R829458 EAGLES - Consortium for Estuarine Ecoindicator Research for the Gulf of Mexico

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R829458C001 Remote Sensing of Water Quality
R829458C002 Microbial Biofilms as Indicators of Estuarine Ecosystem Condition
R829458C003 Individual Level Indicators: Molecular Indicators of Dissolved Oxygen Stress in Crustaceans
R829458C004 Data Management and Analysis
R829458C005 Individual Level Indicators: Reproductive Function in Estuarine Fishes
R829458C006 Collaborative Efforts Between CEER-GOM and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-Gulf Ecology Division (GED)
R829458C007 GIS and Terrestrial Remote Sensing
R829458C008 Macrobenthic Process Indicators of Estuarine Condition for the Northern Gulf of Mexico
R829458C009 Modeling and Integration

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.