Marine Biology Commons^™

Transcriptomic And Epigenetic Responses To Environmental Stress In Marine Bivalves With A Focus On Harmful Algal Blooms, Maria Victoria Suarez Ulloa

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Global change poses new threats for life in the oceans forcing marine organisms to respond through molecular acclimatory and adaptive strategies. Although bivalve molluscs are particularly tolerant and resilient to environmental stress, they must now face the challenge of more frequent and severe Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) episodes. These massive outbreaks of microalgae produce toxins that accumulate in the tissues of these filter-feeder organisms, causing changes in their gene expression profiles, which in turn modify their phenotype in order to maintain homeostasis. Such modifications in gene expression are modulated by epigenetic mechanisms elicited by specific environmental stimuli, laying the foundations …