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Early development and molecular plasticity in the Mediterranean sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus exposed to CO2-driven acidification.
- Source :
-
The Journal of experimental biology [J Exp Biol] 2011 Apr 15; Vol. 214 (Pt 8), pp. 1357-68. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Ocean acidification is predicted to have significant effects on benthic calcifying invertebrates, in particular on their early developmental stages. Echinoderm larvae could be particularly vulnerable to decreased pH, with major consequences for adult populations. The objective of this study was to understand how ocean acidification would affect the initial life stages of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, a common species that is widely distributed in the Mediterranean Sea and the NE Atlantic. The effects of decreased pH (elevated P(CO(2))) were investigated through physiological and molecular analyses on both embryonic and larval stages. Eggs and larvae were reared in Mediterranean seawater at six pH levels, i.e. pH(T) 8.1, 7.9, 7.7, 7.5, 7.25 and 7.0. Fertilization success, survival, growth and calcification rates were monitored over a 3 day period. The expression of genes coding for key proteins involved in development and biomineralization was also monitored. Paracentrotus lividus appears to be extremely resistant to low pH, with no effect on fertilization success or larval survival. Larval growth was slowed when exposed to low pH but with no direct impact on relative larval morphology or calcification down to pH(T) 7.25. Consequently, at a given time, larvae exposed to low pH were present at a normal but delayed larval stage. More surprisingly, candidate genes involved in development and biomineralization were upregulated by factors of up to 26 at low pH. Our results revealed plasticity at the gene expression level that allows a normal, but delayed, development under low pH conditions.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Calcification, Physiologic
Calcium metabolism
Embryo, Nonmammalian drug effects
Female
Fertilization drug effects
Gene Expression Regulation
Larva cytology
Male
Mediterranean Sea
Oceans and Seas
Carbon Dioxide pharmacology
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Larva drug effects
Paracentrotus drug effects
Paracentrotus embryology
Paracentrotus growth & development
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1477-9145
- Volume :
- 214
- Issue :
- Pt 8
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The Journal of experimental biology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 21430213
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.051169