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Article
Effects of Ocean Warming and Acidification on Fertilization Success and Early Larval Development in the Green Sea Urchin Lytechinus variegatus
Marine Pollution Bulletin
  • Brittney L Lenz, Nova Southeastern University
  • Nicole Fogarty, Nova Southeastern University; University of North Carolina Wilmington
  • Joana Figueiredo, Nova Southeastern University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-1-2019
Keywords
  • Acidification,
  • Climate change,
  • Echinoids,
  • Fertilization,
  • Larval growth,
  • Larval development
Abstract

Ocean acidification and warming are predicted to affect the early life of many marine organisms, but their effects can be synergistic or antagonistic. This study assessed the combined effects of near-future (2100) ocean acidification (pH 7.8) and warming (+3 °C) on the fertilization, larval development and growth of the green sea urchin, Lytechinus variegatus, common in tropical reefs of Florida and the Caribbean. Acidification had no effect on fertilization, but delayed larval development, stunted growth, and increased asymmetry. Warming decreased fertilization success when the sperm:egg ratio was higher (1847:1), accelerated larval development, but had no effect on growth. When exposed to both acidification and warming, fertilization rates decreased, larval development accelerated (due to increased respiration/metabolism), but larvae were smaller and more asymmetric, meaning acidification and warming had additive effects. Thus, climate change is expected to decrease the abundance of this important herbivore, exacerbating macroalgal growth and dominance on coral reefs.

Comments

©2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Additional Comments
NSU President's Faculty Research and Development grant #: 335412
ORCID ID
0000-0003-3811-3791, 0000-0001-6597-0268
ResearcherID
A-9647-2015
DOI
10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.02.018
Citation Information
Brittney L Lenz, Nicole Fogarty and Joana Figueiredo. "Effects of Ocean Warming and Acidification on Fertilization Success and Early Larval Development in the Green Sea Urchin Lytechinus variegatus" Marine Pollution Bulletin Vol. 141 (2019) p. 70 - 78 ISSN: 0025-326X
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/joana-figueiredo/45/