Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
In recent years, recurrent sea urchin mass mortalities in the Canary Islands have been registered. These mortality-related events have decimated 93% of the eastern Atlantic populations of the barren-forming sea urchin Diadema africanum. Two severe episodes of rough southeastern seas led to winter storms in February 2010 (Xynthia) and February 2018 (Emma) and preceded the last mass mortality event. We hypothesized that these events are related to the mass mortalities registered during the February in those years. Previous studies identified Neoparamoeba branchiphila as the causal agent of the disease, possibly acting in synergy with Vibrio alginolyticus and/or other pathogens. To determine the link between winter storms and the sea urchin pathogen community, we monitored the marine pathogen assemblage before and after the winter storm Filomena (February 2020) on Tenerife Island, on different habitats (sea water, sediment and algae) and in four species of sea urchin hosts (D. africanum, Arbacia lixula, Paracentrotus lividus and Sphaerechinus granularis). A total of six pathogens, including N. branchiphila, Vexillifera minutissima, Acanthamoeba sp., Vahlkampfia sp., V. alginolyticus and green colonies of Vibrio spp., were identified. Only small amoebas were found in sea urchins, while Vibrio species were more common in seawater, sediment and algae substrates. V. alginolyticus was occasionally detected in three sea urchins specimens, while N. branchiphila was found in the coelom of all four sea urchin studied. As previously hypothesized, a significant pathogen increment in seawater and in the sea urchin species D. africanum and P. lividus, was found after Filomena. Our results confirmed the relationship between the winter storms and marine pathogen dynamics. However, further studies are needed to demonstrate the direct relationship between these pathogen increases and the sea urchin mass mortalities.
Highlights
IntroductionOver the last several years, the frequency and severity of disease spread in marine animals is increasing (Harvell et al, 1999; Lafferty et al, 2004; Feehan et al, 2012; Nowak and Archibald, 2018), a process that is related to an unbalanced ecosystem caused by human activities
Since 1970, extensive mortality events involving sea urchins caused by pathogenic agents has been reported in almost 30 genera of sea urchins from different parts of the world (Maes and Jangoux, 1984; Tajimaa et al, 2007; Feehan et al, 2012; Wang et al, 2013)
To locate and characterize the presence of pathogens, we selected three types of substrates: (1) sea water, (2) sediment and (3) algae; we evaluated the possibility that some of the common sea urchin species (D. africanum, A. lixula, P. lividus, and S. granularis) could act as pathogen hosts
Summary
Over the last several years, the frequency and severity of disease spread in marine animals is increasing (Harvell et al, 1999; Lafferty et al, 2004; Feehan et al, 2012; Nowak and Archibald, 2018), a process that is related to an unbalanced ecosystem caused by human activities. Since 1970, extensive mortality events involving sea urchins caused by pathogenic agents has been reported in almost 30 genera of sea urchins from different parts of the world (Maes and Jangoux, 1984; Tajimaa et al, 2007; Feehan et al, 2012; Wang et al, 2013). In Nova Scotia, the massive mortalities events are cyclicals and are associated with storm-induced paramoebiasis, better known as the “Killer Storm” (Scheibling and Lauzon-Guay, 2010; Scheibling et al, 2010; Feehan et al, 2012)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
