The impact of commercial and recreational harvesting for Paracentrotus lividus on shallow rocky reef sea urchin communities in North-western Sardinia, Italy

Abstract Increased atmospheric CO2 concentration is leading to changes in the carbonate chemistry and the temperature of the ocean. The impact of these processes on marine organisms will depend on their ability to cope with those changes, particularly the maintenance of calcium carbonate structures. Both a laboratory experiment (long-term exposure to decreased pH and increased temperature) and collections of individuals from natural environments characterized by low pH levels (individuals from intertidal pools and around a CO2 seep) were here coupled to comprehensively study the impact of near-future conditions of pH and temperature on the mechanical properties of the skeleton of the euechinoid sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. To assess skeletal mechanical properties, we characterized the fracture force, Young's modulus, second moment of area, material nanohardness, and specific Young's modulus of sea urchin test plates. None of these parameters were significantly affected by low pH and/or increased temperature in the laboratory experiment and by low pH only in the individuals chronically exposed to lowered pH from the CO2 seeps. In tidal pools, the fracture force was higher and the Young's modulus lower in ambital plates of individuals from the rock pool characterized by the largest pH variations but also a dominance of calcifying algae, which might explain some of the variation. Thus, decreases of pH to levels expected for 2100 did not directly alter the mechanical properties of the test of P. lividus. Since the maintenance of test integrity is a question of survival for sea urchins and since weakened tests would increase the sea urchins' risk of predation, our findings indicate that the decreasing seawater pH and increasing seawater temperature expected for the end of the century should not represent an immediate threat to sea urchins vulnerability.

Download Full-text

Grazing effects of the sea urchin Centrostephanus rodgersii in two contrasting rocky reef habitats: effects of urchin density and its implications for the fishery

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf03052 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 54 (6) ◽

pp. 691 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Nicole A. Hill ◽

Craig Blount ◽

Alistair G. B. Poore ◽

Duncan Worthington ◽

Peter D. Steinberg

Keyword(s):

Sea Urchin ◽

New South ◽

Rocky Reef ◽

Short Term ◽

Dramatic Decrease ◽

South Wales ◽

Natural Density ◽

Algal Assemblages ◽

The Impact ◽

Commercial Harvesting

The sea urchin Centrostephanus rodgersii plays an important role in determining the abundance and composition of benthic macroalgae in New South Wales. Centrostephanus rodgersii is commonly found in areas devoid of foliose algae (termed 'barrens habitat'), which abruptly change into areas rich in foliose algae (termed 'fringe habitat'). Complementary experiments were used to investigate the impact of C. rodgersii grazing on algal assemblages at a range of densities in the barrens and fringe habitats. Although 33% of the natural density of C.�rodgersii maintained barrens areas relatively free of foliose algae, only densities exceeding natural densities within barrens habitat cleared areas dominated by macroalgae. The impact of grazing was not linearly related to density in either habitat, which suggests that both the barrens and fringe habitats are stable and will persist unless there is a dramatic decrease in urchin densities in barrens areas or a large influx into fringe areas. These findings have significant implications for the commercial harvesting of C. rodgersii. They imply that reducing urchin densities in barrens habitats, or translocating urchins from barrens to fringe habitats in order to improve roe quality, will not significantly alter the algal assemblage of either habitat in the short term (less than 3 months).

Download Full-text

Evaluation of the impact caused by handling procedures on the embryonic development of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816)

Frontiers in Marine Science ◽

10.3389/conf.fmars.2018.06.00025 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

Author(s):

Rodolfo Ramos ◽

Andreia Raposo ◽

Sílvia Gonçalves ◽

Teresa Baptista ◽

José Lino Costa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Embryonic Development ◽

Sea Urchin ◽

Paracentrotus Lividus ◽

The Impact

Download Full-text

Seasonal changes in the biochemical composition of body components of the sea urchin, Paracentrotus lividus, in Lorbé (Galicia, north-western Spain)

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315403007501h ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 83 (3) ◽

pp. 575-581 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

M.F. Montero-Torreiro ◽

P. Garcia-Martinez

Keyword(s):

Seasonal Variation ◽

Sea Urchin ◽

Biochemical Composition ◽

Gonad Index ◽

Paracentrotus Lividus ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Spawning Period ◽

Biochemical Components ◽

Western Spain ◽

North Western

Seasonal variations in the gonad index and the biochemical composition of gonad and gut tissue of the sea urchin, Paracentrotus lividus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) were determined. Samples were collected from Lorbé (Galicia, north-western Spain) between November 1994 and October 1995. The gametogenic cycle of the sea urchin was annual, with a long, single spawning period from May to August 1995. Most of the biochemical components in gonad showed clear seasonal variation, which was related to the gonad cycle. The main component was protein, which ranged between 36 and 60% of the dry weight, with maximum levels coinciding with the minimum levels of glycogen. Gonad glycogen therefore seemed to be the energy source employed for protein synthesis during gametogenesis. Seasonal variation in total lipids in the gonad was less evident; the main lipidic component was triacylglycerol (around 10% of the dry weight), whereas total cholesterol accounted for less than 1%. The gut does not seem to act as a storage tissue in P. lividus and seasonal variation in biochemical components may be a consequence of fluctuations in the availability of food.

Download Full-text

Effects of Glyphosate-Based and Derived Products on Sea Urchin Larval Development

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering ◽

10.3390/jmse8090661 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (9) ◽

pp. 661

Author(s):

Davide Asnicar ◽

Costanza Cappelli ◽

Ahmad Safuan Sallehuddin ◽

Nur Atiqah Maznan ◽

Maria Gabriella Marin

Keyword(s):

Larval Development ◽

Sea Urchin ◽

Marine Invertebrates ◽

Parent Compound ◽

Paracentrotus Lividus ◽

Marine Species ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Aminomethylphosphonic Acid ◽

Main Degradation Product ◽

Herbicide Glyphosate

Despite the widespread use of herbicide glyphosate in cultivation, its extensive runoff into rivers and to coastal areas, and the persistence of this chemical and its main degradation product (aminomethylphosphonic acid, AMPA) in the environment, there is still little information on the potential negative effects of glyphosate, its commercial formulation Roundup® and AMPA on marine species. This study was conducted with the aim of providing a comparative evaluation of the effects of glyphosate-based and its derived chemicals on the larval development of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, thus providing new data to describe the potential ecotoxicity of these contaminants. In particular, the effects on larval development, growth and metabolism were assessed during 48 h of exposure from the time of egg fertilization. The results confirm that AMPA and its parent compound, glyphosate have similar toxicity, as observed in other marine invertebrates. However, interestingly, the Roundup® formulation seemed to be less toxic than the glyphosate alone.

Download Full-text

The impact of potting for crustaceans on temperate rocky reef habitats: Implications for management

Marine Environmental Research ◽

10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.105134 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 162 ◽

pp. 105134

Author(s):

Sarah C. Gall ◽

Lynda D. Rodwell ◽

Sarah Clark ◽

Tim Robbins ◽

Martin J. Attrill ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rocky Reef ◽

Temperate Rocky Reef ◽

The Impact

Download Full-text

Biometric characteristics of the wild population of sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) on the Tunisian coast

Thalassas An International Journal of Marine Sciences ◽

10.1007/s41208-021-00301-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

F. Sellem ◽

B. Bouhaouala-Zahar

Keyword(s):

Sea Urchin ◽

Wild Population ◽

Multivariable Analysis ◽

Paracentrotus Lividus ◽

Biometric Data ◽

Relative Growth ◽

Tunisian Coast ◽

Population Discrimination ◽

Positive Growth ◽

Negative Growth

AbstractThe present study was conducted to provide biometric data of the edible sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus along the Tunisian coastline where thirteen marine localities were selected randomly. A total of 653 individuals were collected and their metric and weight measurements were recorded. The size distribution of the different samples was determined and relative growth expressions were deduced. Data analysis showed that all localities’ samples of the wild population were dominated by one-size class, except Port Prince and Haouaria. Interestingly, only diameter-height relationships (D-H) were different between the geographical localities. Diameter-weight relationships (D-TW and D-TWTE) revealed a significant negative growth for all the localities, with the exception of Gammarth which showed positive growth for total weight (D-TW). Moreover, the multivariable analysis revealed divergences and/or similarities between metric and weight variables. Altogether, data highlights the inter-population discrimination with respect to geographic localization and clear segregation between the northern and the eastern localities demonstrated the plasticity of the species.

Download Full-text

Sub-Chronic Effects of Slight PAH- and PCB-Contaminated Mesocosms in Paracentrotus lividus Lmk: A Multi-Endpoint Approach and De Novo Transcriptomic

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22136674 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (13) ◽

pp. 6674

Author(s):

Luisa Albarano ◽

Valerio Zupo ◽

Davide Caramiello ◽

Maria Toscanesi ◽

Marco Trifuoggi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

De Novo ◽

Sea Urchins ◽

Transcriptome Assembly ◽

Paracentrotus Lividus ◽

Marine Biota ◽

De Novo Transcriptome Assembly ◽

De Novo Transcriptome ◽

Limit Values ◽

The Impact ◽

Endpoint Approach

Sediment pollution is a major issue in coastal areas, potentially endangering human health and the marine environments. We investigated the short-term sublethal effects of sediments contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus for two months. Spiking occurred at concentrations below threshold limit values permitted by the law (TLVPAHs = 900 µg/L, TLVPCBs = 8 µg/L, Legislative Italian Decree 173/2016). A multi-endpoint approach was adopted, considering both adults (mortality, bioaccumulation and gonadal index) and embryos (embryotoxicity, genotoxicity and de novo transcriptome assembly). The slight concentrations of PAHs and PCBs added to the mesocosms were observed to readily compartmentalize in adults, resulting below the detection limits just one week after their addition. Reconstructed sediment and seawater, as negative controls, did not affect sea urchins. PAH- and PCB-spiked mesocosms were observed to impair P. lividus at various endpoints, including bioaccumulation and embryo development (mainly PAHs) and genotoxicity (PAHs and PCBs). In particular, genotoxicity tests revealed that PAHs and PCBs affected the development of P. lividus embryos deriving from exposed adults. Negative effects were also detected by generating a de novo transcriptome assembly and its annotation, as well as by real-time qPCR performed to identify genes differentially expressed in adults exposed to the two contaminants. The effects on sea urchins (both adults and embryos) at background concentrations of PAHs and PCBs below TLV suggest a need for further investigations on the impact of slight concentrations of such contaminants on marine biota.

Download Full-text