Respiration of the sea urchin Mesocentrotus nudus in response to large temperature fluctuations. (February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sin, Eunchong; Min, Won Gi; Kim, Yun-Bae; Kim, Tae Won
• Is Part Of: Marine environmental research. Volume 144(2019)
• Page Start: 178
• Page End: 185
• Publication Date: 2019-02
• Subjects: Metabolic rate -- Temperature fluctuation -- Sea urchin -- Q10 -- Subtidal area; Marine pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Marine ecology -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Écologie marine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 577.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.01.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0141-1136

Abstract

Abstract: Some subtidal habitats may experience extremely large diel temperature fluctuations. To explore the potential of subtidal animals to regulate their metabolic processes, we investigated how the oxygen consumption rate (MO2 ) of the sea urchin Mesocentrotus nudus changes in response to extreme temperature fluctuations by mimicking temperature variations recorded at Dokdo Island, Republic of Korea. We compared the MO2 of urchins before and after a temperature fluctuation. MO2 was positively correlated with temperature. There was no change in the mean MO2 values even after exposure to fluctuating temperature. There was no significant difference in mean MO2 between large and small temperature fluctuations. These results indicate that the metabolic activity of M. nudus might be well-adapted to extreme temperature fluctuations. However, given that the temperature coefficient ( Q 10 ) values decreased with increasing temperature and Q 10 values during the temperature decrease was higher than those during temperature increase, temperature rise may still act as a stressor for these animals. Highlights: The sea urchin, Mesocentrotus nudus, experiences the large diel underwater temperature fluctuation of Dokdo Island. We measured oxygen consumption rate of M. nudus under the large and small fluctuations of water temperatures. There was no difference in the mean oxygen consumption rate whether it is under large or small temperature fluctuations. The temperature coefficient (Q10 ) value decreased with temperature increase. M. nudus has the ability to endure the thermal stress, but the temperature increase may act as stressor to the population.