Effects of the Red Tide and Toxic Dinoflagellates on the Survival and Growth of Larvae of the Mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis

Abstract

To know the effects of the red tide and toxic dinoflagellates on survival and growth of larvae of the mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, laboratory experiments were conducted by incubating larvae with either unialgal culture of 4 dinoflagellate species (Amphidinium carterae, Prorocentrum triestinum, Gymnodinium impudicum, or Akashiwo sanguinea) or a standard food (Isochrysis galbana) for 10 days. The survival of larvae was higher than 80% when the food was A. carterae, G. impudicum, or A. sanguinea. The lowest survival (20%) was found when the food was P. triestinum. When the food was P. triestinum, the survival of larvae rapidly decreased from 87% at day 4 down to ca. 50% at day 6, and 20% at day 10. This implies that the larval population of M. galloprovincialis can seriously be affected if they are exposed to the red tide water dominated by P. triestinum for more than 4 days. Shell length of larvae either increased or decreased according to the food species. When the food was A. carterae, G. impudicum, or A. sanguinea, shell length of larvae increased. But, it decreased when the food was P. triestinum. Though shell length increased in 3 treatments, the daily increments (0.63 μm for A. carterae, 0.46 μm for G. impudicum, and 1.10 μm for A. sanguinea) were smaller than that of the standard food (3.79 μm for I. galbana). Correlation analyses showed that the change in shell length was not significant when the food was A. carterae or G. impudicum. Therefore, all of 4 dinoflagellates affected the growth of M. galloprovincialis larvae: growth was negative for P. triestinum, nil for A. carterae and G. impudicum, and positive but lower than standard food for A. sanguinea. These imply that the dinoflagellates are less valuable as foods for M. galloprovincialis larvae. So, decreased growth rate of larvae is expected during red tides, which will consequently cause delayed metamorphosis or failure to recruitment to the adult populations. In considering the harmful effects of red tides on the aquatic ecosystem, not only the effects on adult populations of fish and shellfish, but also the effects on larval populations should be included.