Impact of Heat Waves Examined Through the Feeding Mechanisms of the Sabellid Worm, Parasabella microphthalmus

Climate change and extreme climatic events pose a threat to the biodiversity and productivity of estuarine and coastal ecosystems. Filter-feeding organisms play a critical role in these environments, providing ecosystem functions and services. Heat waves are expected to impact filter-feeding invertebrates by affecting their metabolism, altering their feeding behavior, and impairing feeding mechanisms, such as particle capture and transport. Using the filter-feeding, tube-dwelling feather duster worm Parasabella microphthalmus (Annelida), I propose to study the feeding structures, behavior, and biomechanics of this species under different heat wave scenarios.  Marine annelids are an ecologically important, yet under-studied group in climate change biology. They exhibit remarkable diversity and adaptability, as evidenced by their varied feeding strategies, and serve an important role as disturbance indicators in human-impacted habitats. I will use Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to study the morphology of the feeding structures of P. microphthalmus, and Digital Particle Image Velocimetry (DPIV) to explore their  filter-feeding mechanisms and behavior. My results will provide a mechanistic understanding of the responses of this species to heat waves and its chances to persist under such conditions, ultimately advancing our knowledge of how anomalous thermal events will affect these coastal filter-feeders.

Presentation Preference: Oral

Primary Presenter: Immanuel Burns, Old Dominion University (iburn001@odu.edu)

Authors:

Immanuel Burns, Old Dominion University  (iburn001@odu.edu)

Gloria Massaba N'Siala, Old Dominion University  (gmassamb@odu.edu)

Shirel Kahane-Rapport, Old Dominion University  (skahaner@odu.edu)