BIO

My name is Sophie and I'm from Yorktown, Virginia. I am majoring in Biological Science with a minor in Computer Science. I am a member of Phi Mu where I hold a chair position and a new member of a pre-medical fraternity, Phi Delta Epsilon. I enjoy going on road trips, traveling overseas, and spending time with my family, friends, and dogs. I have always had an interest in science, and more specifically in medicine. I am currently an ER scribe for a Level 2 Trauma Center at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. After college, I plan to attend medical school and become a surgeon. I am very passionate about my my work and enjoy learning from mentors and professors here at FSU.

Rates of Crassostrea virginica metamorphosis and fatality due to varying concentrations of epinephrine

Abstract

In the Gulf of Mexico, the population size of Eastern oysters, Crassostrea virginica, has declined rapidly with a loss of approximately 85% of the original population. Oyster populations have struggled to rebound or level out due to pollution, changing water conditions, and loss of habitat. Scientists have searched for methods to increase oyster populations, but one of the largest barriers to success is the extremely low rate of survival to adulthood. By creating a method to help accelerate oysters into metamorphosizing, it is possible to contribute to efforts to increase oyster populations in the Gulf of Mexico. So, we tested the use of epinephrine in the acceleration of metamorphosis in oyster larvae as they were exposed to varying concentrations of an epinephrine solution. The oysters’ metamorphosis and mortality rates were tracked for each concentration. Oysters exposed to lower levels of epinephrine had the most survive but the least metamorphosize, however higher levels had extremely high mortality rates. There was an optimal concentration that maximized metamorphosis before mortality rates increased significantly. The epinephrine introduction appeared to have positive effects on metamorphosis, but negatively impacts survival when the concentration reached a certain threshold.

Keywords: Metamorphosis, Oyster, Epinephrine