Abstract:
A mesocosm study was conducted at Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium Marine Center in Cocodrie, Louisiana, to examine how buried oil may affect predator-prey interactions between blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) and periwinkle snails (Littoraria irrorata). Snail climbing behavior (cm), snail survival (%), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; µg/L) data are presented. The experiment was conducted three times between 2015 and 2016.
Suggested Citation:
Robinson, Elizabeth, Rabalais, Nancy N.. 2019. Snail climbing behavior, survival, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations from a predator-prey mesocosm study conducted in 2015 and 2016. Distributed by: Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Information and Data Cooperative (GRIIDC), Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/n7-2hgq-jh13
Data Parameters and Units:
Worksheet: Snail Climbing Behavior Experiment Date: Date of data collection (MM/DD/YYYY) from mesocosm monitoring, Month: Month of data collection, Year: Year of data collection, Time: Time of data collection, AM/PM: Indicates the general time of day of data collection, as AM (morning) or PM (evening), Day Time Code: A unique identifier assigned to each time of data collection, Chamber: Environmental Chamber designation where individual mesocosm tanks were placed (Chamber 1=unoiled tanks, Chamber 2=oiled tanks), Tank Number: Experimental tank designation inside each environmental chamber (tanks were numbered 1 through 8 in each chamber), Oil Treatment: Indicates oil treatment of each tank (Oiled, Unoiled or control tank), Predator Treatment: Indicates predator treatment of each tank (Snail=no predator or snail only; Blue Crab=one adult blue crab), Snail ID Number: Identifying numbers on each snail (n/a indicates the number was illegible), Snail Distance (cm): the height of the snail on the main stem of a Spartina blade above the sediment surface, or the height of the snail above the sediment surface on a bent Spartina blade. Worksheet: Snail Survival Experiment Date: Date of data collection (MM/DD/YYYY) from mesocosm monitoring, Tank Number: Experimental tank designation inside each environmental chamber (tanks were numbered 1 through 8 in each chamber), Predator Treatment: Indicates predator treatment of each tank (Snail=no predator or snail only; Blue Crab=one adult blue crab), Oil Treatment: Indicates oil treatment of each tank (Oiled, Unoiled or control tank), Treatment Code: User-defined code combining the Oil Treatment (U=Unoiled, O=Oiled) and the Predator Treatment (S=Snail, BC=Blue Crab), Total Snails Alive: the number of snails alive at the end of the 96 hour mesocosm experiment. Total number cannot exceed 5 (the number of snails in each tank at the beginning of the experiment), Percent Snail Survival (%): total number of snails alive / 5) * 100. Worksheet: Oil PAHs Oiled Tank Number: Tank: Experimental tank designation inside environmental chamber number 2 (the oiled chamber), Month: Month of data collection, Year: Year of data collection, Aromatic analytes ((µg/L)) for the listed samples.
The image file R4.x264.000-0086_Experimental_Design_sub2.jpg includes a diagram of one of the mesocosm tank. Mesocosm tanks were round plastic tubs, 41 cm in height and a diameter of 55 cm, with a total volume of 64 liters.
Methods:
Mesocosm tanks were constructed out of round, plastic tubs. Tubs contained sand, sea water, Spartina, aerator, measuring stick, five snails, and oil and/or an adult blue crab depending upon experimental treatment. Unoiled and oiled tanks were kept separate between two environmental chambers to prevent contamination. Snail climbing behavior was monitored every 12 h over 96 h. At the end of 96 h, snail survival was determined. A water sample was collected at the end of the experiment for PAH analysis.
PAH extraction was performed using a modified EPA SW-846 methods 3510C: Separatory Funnel Liquid-Liquid extraction = procedure for isolating target alkanes and aromatics from aqueous samples with methylene chloride using a separatory funnel.
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