NCCOS Assessment: Effects of amoxicillin exposure on the early life stages of sea urchins, oysters, and corals in 2021 to 2022 (NCEI Accession 0303131)

In FY2022 (June 2021- September 2022), we conducted six experiments to determine the effect of amoxicillin exposure on marine invertebrates: one on the development of sea urchin (Lytechinus variegatus) embryos after 48 hours of exposure, one on the development of oyster (Crassostrea virginica) embryos after 48 hours of exposure, three on the survival of coral larvae after 48 hours of exposure (Acropora cervicornis, Acropora palmata, and Orbicella faveolata), and one on the settlement behavior of coral larvae (Acropora cervicornis) after 9 days of exposure. These experiments were designed to determine whether any observable developmental abnormalities occur in response to a range of amoxicillin doses (5 mg L-1, 10 mg L-1, 25 mg L-1, 50 mg L-1, 100 mg L-1, 250 mg L-1, 500 mg L-1, and 1000 mg L-1). Data was acquired by imaging the embryos in each amoxicillin treatment and recording the following by species: Lytechinus variegatus= Normally developed embryos, underdeveloped embryos, arrested embryos (fertilized egg with no further development), or malformed embryos (exhibiting morphological abnormalities such as warped arms or stunted arms, a missing gut, missing pigment cells, or other); Crassostrea virginica= Normally developed D-stage embryos, underdeveloped embryos, arrested embryos (fertilized egg with nor further development), or malformed embryos (exhibiting morphological abnormalities such as convex hinge or extruded mantle); Acropora cervicornis= survival after 24 hours, survival after 48 hours, survival after 216 hours, developmental stage after 216 hours (metamorphosed, elongated, round, settled onto substrate); Orbicella faveolate= survival after 48 hours; Acropora palmata= survival after 24 hours, survival after 48 hours. Exposure results data are in spreadsheet format.