Title

Annual Variation of Estuarine and Oceanic Oyster Crassostrea Virginica Gmelin Hemocyte Capacity

Author Info

William S. Fisher, University of Maryland
Marnita M. Chintala, University of Maryland
Mark A. Moline, University of MarylandFollow

Recommended Citation

Postprint version. Published in Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, Volume 127, Issue 2, May 16, 1989, pages 105-120.

NOTE: At the time of publication, the author Mark Moline was not yet affiliated with Cal Poly.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-0981(89)90178-0.

Abstract

Defense-related hemocyte activities of American oysters Crassostrea virginica Gmelin from an oceanic and an estuarine habitat were monitored from spring to winter of 1987 at a constant temperature (15 °C). The ability of cells to spread to an ameboid shape in vitro at ambient salinity and after an acute change in salinity was much reduced from late spring to early fall. This summer-stress period was also indicated by laboratory experiments. Stress may have been due to high water temperatures but spawning efforts may have also contributed. Reduced hemocyte activity occurred at a time when infections by two major oyster parasites are at a peak in enzootic areas. Hemocyte locomotion rates fluctuated during the study period but did not show a significant cyclic pattern. At all times of the year, hemocytes responded to acute in vitro changes in salinity according to a pattern previously described. Oysters inhabit a wide range of salinities and temperatures and these data indicate that natural environmental fluctuations may influence their defensive capacity.

Disciplines

Biology

Copyright

1989 Elsevier B.V.