Longterm Estuary Assessment Group NOAA '07 Eco Impacts of Hypoxia Developing biomarkers of...
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Transcript of Longterm Estuary Assessment Group NOAA '07 Eco Impacts of Hypoxia Developing biomarkers of...
Longterm Estuary Assessment Group
NOAA '07 Eco Impacts of Hypoxia
Developing biomarkers of reproductive health in fish and amphibians of the
Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary LaFleur, Pitre, Lasseigne, and Nelson nicholls state university
LaFleur Lab
Graphic from Restore or Retreat: www.restoreorretreat.org
The Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary is impaired
NOAA '07 Eco Impacts of Hypoxia
Having been isolated from freshwater inputs it is lacks flushing, sheet flow, and an ecological flood pulse
• lack of flow
• saltwater intrusion
• land-loss
The 46-year mean stage of the Atchafalaya still reflects an ecological flood pulse
USACE Butte La Rose Gage 03120 ('59-'04)
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4/7/06 5/27/06 7/16/06 9/4/06 10/24/06 12/13/06 2/1/07
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In the Upper Barataria basin, Hypoxia can occur But it is usually associated with Rainwater
events, rather than flood stage
from Estay and Fontenot (thesis)
one project proposes diverting 300,000 cfs water into the BTE; up to 6 sq mi / year; at a cost of $25 / cubic yard
Graphic from Restore or Retreat: www.restoreorretreat.org
Our estuary is slated for largescale hydrologic modifications:
NOAA '07 Eco Impacts of Hypoxia
Pipeline Slurry System
A more recently presented scenario would utilize a sediment pipeline slurry system to build land even quicker: up to15 sq mi / year; at a cost of $4 /cubic yardNOAA '07
Eco Impacts of Hypoxia
MY OBJECTIVESIn preparation for hydrologic changes due to further deterioration or restoration activities in our estuary, my lab has begun a survey
•to monitor behavioral indicators of reproduction in amphibians of the estuary
•to monitor anatomical indicators of reproduction in amphibians of the estuary
•to monitor molecular indicators of reproduction in amphibians of the estuary
NOAA '07 Eco Impacts of Hypoxia
2 3
Site 1 Choctaw swamp; Site 2 Chacahoula swamp Site 3 Nicholls’ Environmental Ag Facility Site 4 Falgout Canal fw / brackish marsh Site 5 fish only at Isle Dernieres Barrier Islands
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NOAA '07 Eco Impacts of Hypoxia
Reproductive behavior is being surveyed in three LAMP survey routes:
spanning Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes
NOAA '07 Eco Impacts of Hypoxia
23-Jan7-Feb
6-Mar20-Mar
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23-Jan
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tempcalls
calls
In 2007, Spring Peepers reached peak calling in Feb
Northern Cricket frogs peaked in Jan, but are still calling
Confirmed Hyla avivoca
Choctaw Swamp, Lafourche Parish
Proposed Expansion of Geographic Range to the BTES,
south of the Mississippi River
Conant and Collins.1991
ovary
liver
Selected species are collected, dissected, and anatomical indicators are examined
NOAA '07 Eco Impacts of Hypoxia
Species Repro Behavior
Preserved Repro Anatomy Molec. Biomarker
Bufo valliceps X X X X
Acris gryllus X X
Hyla cinerea X X
Hyla squirella X X
Hyla versicolor/ chrysoscelis
X X
Hyla avivoca* X X
Pseudacris crucifer X X
Gastrophryne carolinensis X X
Rana catesbeiana X X X
Rana grylio X
Rana clamitans X X X
X
Rana utricularia
Amphiuma tridactylumNotophthalmus viridescens
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Amphibian Survey Matrix
Approach todesigning biomarkers for
estrogen-induction
• Injection of estradiol into males
• Isolation of liver RNA
• RT-PCR for Vtg, Chg from homogenates using degenerate and heterologous primers
NOAA '07 Eco Impacts of Hypoxia
vitellogenins and choriogenins
of teleostchoriogenins and vitellogenins
HETEROSYNTHETIC ORIGIN OF
TELEOSTEANEGG PROTEINS
follicle cells
vitelline envelope precursor to the
chorion
yolk of oocyte
Estrogeninduced
Liver synthesis
micropyle
NOAA '07 Eco Impacts of Hypoxia
Choriogenin Primers
Row 78 TTCAGGTTCCAGAATTCTGAC
Row 81 CATTGGTTCATATCGCTGTCT
Vitellogenin Primers
Row 8 CGATATTGACATGTTTCCAA
Row 24 TACCAGCTTGGTTTCTACCT
Choriogenin and Vitellogenin primers derived from F. heteroclitus, the mummichog. Row 78 and Row 81 produce a 450 bp product while Row 8 and Row 24 produce a 729 bp product
NOAA '07 Eco Impacts of Hypoxia
a b c d
Choriogenin cDNAs indicating normal female reproductive activity.
choriogenin
450 bp
F.g. liver
F.c. liver
G.a. liver
A.t. ovary
NOAA '07 Eco Impacts of Hypoxia
(Estrogen-injected males)
a= Fundulus grandis liver, b= Fundulus chrysotus liver, c= Amphiuma tridactylum liver
vitellogenin
a b c
729 bp
NOAA '07 Eco Impacts of Hypoxia
(Non-injected males)
Three wild-caught males showing the presence of female specific RNA a= Bufo valliceps liver, b= Amphiuma tridactylum liver c= Gambusia affinis
a b c
vitellogenin
729 bp
NOAA '07 Eco Impacts of Hypoxia
Through collaborations between the labs of LaFleur, Ferrara and Fontenot we have established overlapping projects of the estuarine fauna, including monitoring of finfish, larval fish, and amphibians.
Fish and
Amphibians
NOAA '07 Eco Impacts of Hypoxia
Summary• Documented reproductive behavior
through calls of 12 local Anuran species.
• Established herpetology collection.• Tracking reproductive seasons by measuring GSI on 4
Anurans, 1 Salamander, 3 fish.• Molecular biomarkers were amplified using
RT-PCR on 3 anurans, 1 Salamander, 3 fish.
• Poised to implement reproductive survey to include water quality and expanded sampling regime.
• Proposed range extension for Hyla avivoca to include wetlands of the BTES.
LaFleur Lab
Post Katrina Directions
Amphibian and Fish reproduction will be utilized as a longterm assessment tool for
environmental health of the estuary
Nicholls has been awarded a grant for restoration planting by NOAA
Nicholls has signed an MOU with NRCS for restoration plant propagation at Nicholls Farm
LaFleur, Boopathy, and Zou are committed to longterm monitoring programs that will offer
consistency over timeNOAA '07 Eco Impacts of Hypoxia