Algal toxin impairs sea lion memory and hippocampal connectivity, with implications for strandings.
نویسندگان
چکیده
Domoic acid (DA) is a naturally occurring neurotoxin known to harm marine animals. DA-producing algal blooms are increasing in size and frequency. Although chronic exposure is known to produce brain lesions, the influence of DA toxicosis on behavior in wild animals is unknown. We showed, in a large sample of wild sea lions, that spatial memory deficits are predicted by the extent of right dorsal hippocampal lesions related to natural exposure to DA and that exposure also disrupts hippocampal-thalamic brain networks. Because sea lions are dynamic foragers that rely on flexible navigation, impaired spatial memory may affect survival in the wild.
منابع مشابه
Movement, dive behavior, and survival of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) posttreatment for domoic acid toxicosis
Domoic acid (DA) is a neuroexcitatory toxin increasingly causing strandings and mortality of marine mammals. The hippocampus of mammalian brains, associated with learning, memory, and spatial navigation, is one of the predominant regions affected by DA exposure. California sea lions stranding from 2003 to 2006 as a result of DA toxicosis were classified as having acute (n = 12) or chronic neuro...
متن کاملEthanol impairs memory by reducing the synaptic connection of the hippocampal spatial neurons
Background and Objective: Ethanol has undesirable effects on memory and synaptic communication. However, its impact on the learned spatial memory is unclear. We investigated the damaging effects of ethanol on place neurons of rat’s hippocampal CA1.Materials and Methods: Sixty four male Wistar rats (250 g) were administered high (1-8 g/kg) or low (0.05-0.1 g/kg) doses of ethanol intraperit...
متن کاملRepeated mass strandings of Miocene marine mammals from Atacama Region of Chile point to sudden death at sea
Marine mammal mass strandings have occurred for millions of years, but their origins defy singular explanations. Beyond human causes, mass strandings have been attributed to herding behaviour, large-scale oceanographic fronts and harmful algal blooms (HABs). Because algal toxins cause organ failure in marine mammals, HABs are the most common mass stranding agent with broad geographical and wide...
متن کاملLong-Term Seasonal and Interannual Patterns of Marine Mammal Strandings in Subtropical Western South Atlantic
Understanding temporal patterns of marine mammal occurrence is useful for establishing conservation strategies. We used a 38 yr-long dataset spanning 1976 to 2013 to describe temporal patterns and trends in marine mammal strandings along a subtropical stretch of the east coast of South America. This region is influenced by a transitional zone between tropical and temperate waters and is conside...
متن کاملA Novel Antibody-Based Biomarker for Chronic Algal Toxin Exposure and Sub-Acute Neurotoxicity
The neurotoxic amino acid, domoic acid (DA), is naturally produced by marine phytoplankton and presents a significant threat to the health of marine mammals, seabirds and humans via transfer of the toxin through the foodweb. In humans, acute exposure causes a neurotoxic illness known as amnesic shellfish poisoning characterized by seizures, memory loss, coma and death. Regular monitoring for hi...
متن کاملذخیره در منابع من
با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید
عنوان ژورنال:
- Science
دوره 350 6267 شماره
صفحات -
تاریخ انتشار 2015