Physiological and gene transcription assays to assess responses of mussels to environmental changes

Katrina Counihan; Lizabeth Bowen; Brenda Ballachey; Heather A. Coletti; Tuula Hollman; Benjamin Pister; Tammy L Wilson

doi:10.7717/peerj.7800

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Physiological and gene transcription assays to assess responses of mussels to environmental changes

Katrina Counihan·Lizabeth Bowen·Brenda Ballachey·Heather A. Coletti·Tuula Hollman·Benjamin Pister·Tammy L Wilson

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Abstract

Coastal regions worldwide face increasing management concerns due to natural and anthropogenic forces that have the potential to significantly degrade nearshore marine resources. The goal of our study was to develop and test a monitoring strategy for nearshore marine ecosystems in remote areas that are not readily accessible for sampling. Mussel species have been used extensively to assess ecosystem vulnerability to multiple, interacting stressors. We sampled bay mussels ( Mytilus trossulus ) in 2015 and 2016 from six intertidal sites in Lake Clark and Katmai National Parks and Preserves, in south-central Alaska. Reference ranges for physiological assays and gene transcription were determined for use in future assessment efforts. Both techniques identified differences among sites, suggesting influences of both large-scale and local environmental factors and underscoring the value of this combined approach to ecosystem health monitoring.

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PeerJ Article

Source-reported bounding extent: 57.961503094284794° to 60.13056361691419° latitude; -156.4453125° to -152.490234375° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Katrina Counihan, Lizabeth Bowen, Brenda Ballachey, Heather A. Coletti, Tuula Hollman, Benjamin Pister, Tammy L Wilson. 2019-10-04. Physiological and gene transcription assays to assess responses of mussels to environmental changes. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7800

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