The Experts below are selected from a list of 231 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Rg Kvitek - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Influenoe of sea otters on soft-bottom prey communities in southeast Alaska
Marine Ecology Progress Series, 1992Co-Authors: Rg Kvitek, Js OliverAbstract:Sea otters Enhydra lutris, well documented as 'keystone' predators in rocky marine communities, were found to exert a strong influence on infaunal prey communities in soft-sediment habitats. The effect of sea otter predation in subtidal soft-bottom prey communities in southeast Alaska was evaluated via a natural experiment comparing prey populations in similar habitats with and without sea otters. Results indicate that otters forage primarily on bivalve prey, especially the butter clam Saxidomus giganteus and dramatically reduce infaunal bivalve and sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus spp.) prey populations. Bivalve prey abundance, biomass and size were negatively correlated with sea otter occupancy. Otter-cracked shells of the deep-burrowing clams Tresus capax and Panope abrupta were rarely found, even at otter foraging sites where these clams accounted for the majority of available prey biomass, suggesting that these species have a partial depth refuge from otter predation. The differential impacts of otter predation on prey populations suggest that infaunal bivalves provide a more sustainable food base than do sea urchins.
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Paralytic shellfish toxins sequestered by bivalves as a defense against siphon-nipping fish
Marine Biology, 1991Co-Authors: Rg KvitekAbstract:Saxidomus giganteus (butter clams), are known to sequester diet-derived paralytic shellfish toxins (PST), highly potent neurotoxins, in their siphons. Captive staghorn sculpins ( Leptocotus armatus ), a marine fish species known to crop bivalve siphons, developed a significant aversion to siphons from toxic but not non-toxic S. giganteus following a single conditioning feeding of toxic siphon tissues. Control fish showed no aversive response to siphons from non-toxic S. giganteus during 11 feeding sessions over 56 d. Aversive and non-aversive behavior varied with the toxicity of the siphons, but not with the geographic origin of the clams. Both experimental and control fish ate freely and showed no aversion to siphons from toxic littleneck clams ( Protothaca staminea ). Littleneck clams, unlike S. giganteus , retain PST in their visceral mass but not in their siphons. Both toxic and non-toxic S. giganteus extended their siphons significantly more often and higher above the sediment surface during dark hours, but toxic S. giganteus extended their siphons higher than non-toxic individuals. These results support the hypothesis that siphon-nipping by fish may have selected for the retention of PST in butter clam siphons as a chemical defense.
J. Liston - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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presence of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins and soluble proteins in toxic butter clams Saxidomus giganteus
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 1992Co-Authors: David D Kitts, D S Smith, M K Beitler, J. ListonAbstract:Abstract Butter clams obtained from a variety of locations along the northern British Columbia coast were assayed for the presence of individual paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins (PSPT) by HPLC and total PSPT toxicity using the mouse bioassay. Specific organs, namely the siphon, adductor muscle, foot and mantle were examined for soluble antigens that crossreacted with crab Saxitoxin-Induced Protein (SIP) using immunochemical (Western blotting) techniques. Butter clams containing high concentrations of PSPT also had several proteins that crossreacted with crab anti-SIP serum. In particular, soluble proteins with distinctly different molecular weights were found in the siphon and foot, respectively, in toxic shellfish. These proteins were absent in nontoxic butter clams. The concept of using PSPT-induced proteins in the butter clam as a screen for identifying toxic shellfish is introduced.
David D Kitts - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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presence of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins and soluble proteins in toxic butter clams Saxidomus giganteus
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 1992Co-Authors: David D Kitts, D S Smith, M K Beitler, J. ListonAbstract:Abstract Butter clams obtained from a variety of locations along the northern British Columbia coast were assayed for the presence of individual paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins (PSPT) by HPLC and total PSPT toxicity using the mouse bioassay. Specific organs, namely the siphon, adductor muscle, foot and mantle were examined for soluble antigens that crossreacted with crab Saxitoxin-Induced Protein (SIP) using immunochemical (Western blotting) techniques. Butter clams containing high concentrations of PSPT also had several proteins that crossreacted with crab anti-SIP serum. In particular, soluble proteins with distinctly different molecular weights were found in the siphon and foot, respectively, in toxic shellfish. These proteins were absent in nontoxic butter clams. The concept of using PSPT-induced proteins in the butter clam as a screen for identifying toxic shellfish is introduced.
M K Beitler - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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presence of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins and soluble proteins in toxic butter clams Saxidomus giganteus
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 1992Co-Authors: David D Kitts, D S Smith, M K Beitler, J. ListonAbstract:Abstract Butter clams obtained from a variety of locations along the northern British Columbia coast were assayed for the presence of individual paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins (PSPT) by HPLC and total PSPT toxicity using the mouse bioassay. Specific organs, namely the siphon, adductor muscle, foot and mantle were examined for soluble antigens that crossreacted with crab Saxitoxin-Induced Protein (SIP) using immunochemical (Western blotting) techniques. Butter clams containing high concentrations of PSPT also had several proteins that crossreacted with crab anti-SIP serum. In particular, soluble proteins with distinctly different molecular weights were found in the siphon and foot, respectively, in toxic shellfish. These proteins were absent in nontoxic butter clams. The concept of using PSPT-induced proteins in the butter clam as a screen for identifying toxic shellfish is introduced.
D S Smith - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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presence of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins and soluble proteins in toxic butter clams Saxidomus giganteus
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 1992Co-Authors: David D Kitts, D S Smith, M K Beitler, J. ListonAbstract:Abstract Butter clams obtained from a variety of locations along the northern British Columbia coast were assayed for the presence of individual paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins (PSPT) by HPLC and total PSPT toxicity using the mouse bioassay. Specific organs, namely the siphon, adductor muscle, foot and mantle were examined for soluble antigens that crossreacted with crab Saxitoxin-Induced Protein (SIP) using immunochemical (Western blotting) techniques. Butter clams containing high concentrations of PSPT also had several proteins that crossreacted with crab anti-SIP serum. In particular, soluble proteins with distinctly different molecular weights were found in the siphon and foot, respectively, in toxic shellfish. These proteins were absent in nontoxic butter clams. The concept of using PSPT-induced proteins in the butter clam as a screen for identifying toxic shellfish is introduced.
