Dataset: Interactive effects of near-future temperature increase (28/31°C) and ocean acidification (7.8/8.1 pH) on physiology and gonad development in adult Pacific sea urchin, Echinometra sp. A (NERP TE 5.2, AIMS)


Description

This experiment grew adult Echinometra sp. A sea urchins under four temperature and pH treatments 28 / 7.9, 28 / 8.1, 31 / 7.9, 31 / 8.1 (degrees C, pH) to investigate the interactive effects of warming and acidification on their physiology. These treatments were chosen to match those that may be experienced in the near-future (2100) due to climate change. Each treatment was replicated across 3 aquaria, each with 6 individuals for a total of 72 sea urchins.

Method:

The adult Echinometra sp. A used in this experiment (32¿54 mm diameter, 16¿68 g wet weight) were collected on the 7th of September 2011 at 2¿5 m water depth at Rib Reef (146 deg 52.49¿ E, 18 deg 28.86¿ S), a midshelf reef in the central section of the Great Barrier Reef. They represent 'intermediate-sized' adult animals at Rib Reef, omitting the smallest and largest specimens. The experiment started three weeks after individuals were collected.

The growth rate of the urchins was measured over 70 days and expressed as a percentage increase of the original weight. Sea urchins were placed into the aquaria on the 21 September 2011 (Day 0) and feed over the life of the experiment on brown macroalgae and coral rubble encrusted with crustose coralline algae was offered as an additional food source.

To reduce the influence of gut contents on weight measurements were taken after a 24 hour starvation period. The six individuals in each aquarium were distinguished based on colour patterns and size, which allowed each of their individual growth rates to be measured.

At the end of the experiment (Day 77) all Echinometra sp. A were dissected and the coelomic fluid carefully drained and its pH measured. The gonads were dried, weighed and sections were examined.

The experiment and its results are described in more detail in:
S. Uthicke, M. Liddy, H. D. Nguyen, M. Byrne (2014), Interactive effects of near-future temperature increase and ocean acidification on physiology and gonad development in adult Pacific sea urchin, Echinometra sp. A,. Coral Reefs. DOI 10.1007/s00338-014-1165-y

Data Dictionary:

Echinometra_Growth_righting.csv:

Echinometra_Gonad Index_noNA_actual_temps_ph.csv:

General Information

Distributions