Low salinity stress experienced by larvae does not affect post-metamorphic growth or survival in three calyptraeid gastropods

Marine larvae that experience some sub-lethal stresses can show effects from those stresses after metamorphosis, even when they seem to recover from those stresses before metamorphosis. In this study we investigated the short and long-term effects of exposing the larvae of three calyptraeid gastropods (Crepidula fornicata, Crepidula onyx, and Crepipatella fecunda) to temporary reductions in salinity. Larvae of all three species showed slower larval growth rates, longer time to metamorphic competence, and substantial mortality after being stressed in seawater at salinities of 10, 15, and 20 for less than 48 h. Larval tolerance to low salinities varied widely within and among species, but longer stresses at lower salinities were generally more harmful to larvae. However, larvae in nearly all experiments that were able to metamorphose survived and grew normally as juveniles; there were no documented “latent effects.” For all three species, starving larvae in full-strength seawater was not as harmful as exposing larvae to low salinity stress, indicating that detrimental effects on larvae were caused by the salinity stress per se, rather than by an indirect effect of salinity stress on feeding. C. fornicata that were stressed with low salinity as juveniles were more tolerant of the stress than larvae: all stressed juveniles lived and showed reduced growth rates for no more than 3 days. Our data suggest that even though reduced salinity is clearly stressful to the larvae of these 3 gastropod species, metamorphosis seems to generally provide individuals with a fresh start.

Research Highlights
► Exposing larvae to low salinity did not cause latent effects in gastropod juveniles.
► Low salinity stress increased mortality, slowed growth, and prolonged development.
► Larval tolerance to low salinity varied widely within and among species.
► Juveniles of C. fornicata were more tolerant of low-salinity stress than the larvae.