The Ecological Importance of Toxicity: Sea Anemones Maintain Toxic Defence When Bleached

Cnidarians are amongst the most venomous animals on the planet. They are also under significant threat due to the impacts of climate change. Corals and anemones undergo climate-induced bleaching during extreme environmental conditions, where a loss of symbiotic photosynthetic algae (zooxanthellae) c...

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Main Authors: Cassie M. Hoepner, Catherine A. Abbott, Karen Burke da Silva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-05-01
Series:Toxins
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/11/5/266
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author Cassie M. Hoepner
Catherine A. Abbott
Karen Burke da Silva
author_facet Cassie M. Hoepner
Catherine A. Abbott
Karen Burke da Silva
author_sort Cassie M. Hoepner
collection DOAJ
description Cnidarians are amongst the most venomous animals on the planet. They are also under significant threat due to the impacts of climate change. Corals and anemones undergo climate-induced bleaching during extreme environmental conditions, where a loss of symbiotic photosynthetic algae (zooxanthellae) causes whitening in colour, loss of internal food supply, and reduction in health, which can ultimately lead to death. What has yet to be determined is whether bleaching causes a reduction in the production or quality of venom. In this study, the sea anemone <i>Entacmaea quadricolor</i> was exposed to long-term light-induced bleaching to examine the effect that bleaching has on venom. Venom quality and quantity, as determined through lethality and haemolysis measures and nematocyst production was highly preserved over the five-month imposed bleaching event. Maintenance of venom and nematocyst production, despite a loss of an internal food source provided by endosymbiotic algae, indicates both the ecological importance of maintaining toxicity and a remarkable resilience that anemones have to major environmental stressors.
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spelling doaj.art-176c0ec59078472b93563daf3efe02372022-12-22T03:09:54ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512019-05-0111526610.3390/toxins11050266toxins11050266The Ecological Importance of Toxicity: Sea Anemones Maintain Toxic Defence When BleachedCassie M. Hoepner0Catherine A. Abbott1Karen Burke da Silva2College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5001, AustraliaCollege of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5001, AustraliaCollege of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5001, AustraliaCnidarians are amongst the most venomous animals on the planet. They are also under significant threat due to the impacts of climate change. Corals and anemones undergo climate-induced bleaching during extreme environmental conditions, where a loss of symbiotic photosynthetic algae (zooxanthellae) causes whitening in colour, loss of internal food supply, and reduction in health, which can ultimately lead to death. What has yet to be determined is whether bleaching causes a reduction in the production or quality of venom. In this study, the sea anemone <i>Entacmaea quadricolor</i> was exposed to long-term light-induced bleaching to examine the effect that bleaching has on venom. Venom quality and quantity, as determined through lethality and haemolysis measures and nematocyst production was highly preserved over the five-month imposed bleaching event. Maintenance of venom and nematocyst production, despite a loss of an internal food source provided by endosymbiotic algae, indicates both the ecological importance of maintaining toxicity and a remarkable resilience that anemones have to major environmental stressors.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/11/5/266anemonebleachingclimate changehaemolysisresiliencevenom
spellingShingle Cassie M. Hoepner
Catherine A. Abbott
Karen Burke da Silva
The Ecological Importance of Toxicity: Sea Anemones Maintain Toxic Defence When Bleached
Toxins
anemone
bleaching
climate change
haemolysis
resilience
venom
title The Ecological Importance of Toxicity: Sea Anemones Maintain Toxic Defence When Bleached
title_full The Ecological Importance of Toxicity: Sea Anemones Maintain Toxic Defence When Bleached
title_fullStr The Ecological Importance of Toxicity: Sea Anemones Maintain Toxic Defence When Bleached
title_full_unstemmed The Ecological Importance of Toxicity: Sea Anemones Maintain Toxic Defence When Bleached
title_short The Ecological Importance of Toxicity: Sea Anemones Maintain Toxic Defence When Bleached
title_sort ecological importance of toxicity sea anemones maintain toxic defence when bleached
topic anemone
bleaching
climate change
haemolysis
resilience
venom
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/11/5/266
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