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Effects of ocean warming and acidification on fertilization in the Antarctic echinoid Sterechinus neumayeri across a range of sperm concentrations
Citation
Ho, MA and Price, C and King, CK and Virtue, P and Byrne, M, Effects of ocean warming and acidification on fertilization in the Antarctic echinoid Sterechinus neumayeri across a range of sperm concentrations, Marine Environmental Research, 90 pp. 136-141. ISSN 0141-1136 (2013) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2013 Elsevier Ltd.
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2013.07.007
Abstract
The gametes of marine invertebrates are being spawned into an ocean that is simultaneously warming
and decreasing in pH. Predicting the potential for interactive effects of these stressors on fertilization is
difficult, especially for stenothermal polar invertebrates adapted to fertilization in cold, viscous water
and, when decreased sperm availability may be an additional stressor. The impact of increased temperature
(2e4 C above ambient) and decreased pH (0.2e0.4 pH units below ambient) on fertilization in
the Antarctic echinoid Sterechinus neumayeri across a range of sperm concentrations was investigated in
cross-factorial experiments in context with near future ocean change projections. The high temperature
treatment (ž4 C) was also used to assess thermal tolerance. Gametes from multiple males and females
in replicate experiments were used to reflect the multiple spawner scenario in nature. For fertilization at
low sperm density we tested three hypotheses, 1) increased temperature enhances fertilization success,
2) low pH reduces fertilization and, 3) due to the cold stenothermal physiology of S. neumayeri, temperature
would be the more significant stressor. Temperature and sperm levels had a significant effect on
fertilization, but decreased pH did not affect fertilization. Warming enhanced fertilization at the lowest
sperm concentration tested likely through stimulation of sperm motility and reduced water viscosity.
Our results indicate that fertilization in S. neumayeri, even at low sperm levels potentially found in
nature, is resilient to near-future ocean warming and acidification.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | Global Change Sea Urchin Temperature PCO2 |
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Ecology |
Research Field: | Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments |
Objective Field: | Biodiversity in Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments |
UTAS Author: | Price, C (Miss Cassandra Price) |
UTAS Author: | Virtue, P (Associate Professor Patti Virtue) |
ID Code: | 89018 |
Year Published: | 2013 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 18 |
Deposited By: | IMAS Research and Education Centre |
Deposited On: | 2014-02-24 |
Last Modified: | 2014-06-06 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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