This report is the executive summary of the full report titled: Transcriptomic responses to an Alaskan oil spill over time reveal a dynamic multisystem involvement in exposed mussels (Mytilus trossulus).
Document Author: Shannon Waters
Transcriptomic responses to an Alaskan oil spill over time reveal a dynamic multisystem involvement in exposed mussels (Mytilus trossulus)
Whole tissues analyzed for the full suite of forensic oil hydrocarbons revealed weathering patterns and purging processes. The transcriptome of adductor muscle tissue showed multi-pathway effects and timing in gene activities related to the detoxification and recovery processes.
In multiple pathways, gene activities did not return to reference-site levels, suggesting that recovery from hydrocarbons was not complete by the final sampling. This may have been due to residual sheening prolonging recovery.
Genes that could potentially distinguish between ANS crude oil and harbor contaminants (pyrogenics and diesel) were identified with the goal of developing more robust monitoring tools.
Port Valdez Mussel Transcriptomics
Transcriptomics involves measuring how particular genes are being expressed in an organism of interest, in this case blue mussels. The particular genes are linked to environmental stressors including ocean acidification, temperature, disease, heavy metal contamination, and oil pollution.
In June 2019, mussels were collected from sampling locations in Port Valdez to measure if they were subject to any of those environmental stressors. The 2019 transcriptomic results showed that the blue mussels were responding to heavy metal contamination and oil pollution in Port Valdez. This pilot project will continue in 2020, and the results from the 2019 and 2020 work will be used to determine if transcriptomics should become a regular part of the Council’s LTEMP.