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Dryad

Data from: Ocean warming and acidification alter the behavioural response to flow of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus

Cite this dataset

Cohen-Rengifo, Mishal et al. (2020). Data from: Ocean warming and acidification alter the behavioural response to flow of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.123t3gr

Abstract

Ocean warming (OW) and acidification (OA) are intensively investigated as they pose major threats to marine organism. However, little effort is dedicated to another collateral climate change stressor, the increased frequency and intensity of storm events, here referred to as intensified hydrodynamics. A 2-month experiment was performed to identify how OW and OA (temperature: 21°C; pHT: 7.7, 7.4; control: 17°C-pHT7.9) affect the resistance to hydrodynamics in the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus using an integrative approach that includes physiology, biomechanics and behaviour. Biomechanics was studied under both no-flow condition at the tube foot (TF) scale and flow condition at the individual scale. For the former, TF disk adhesive properties (attachment strength, tenacity) and TF stem mechanical properties (breaking force, extensibility, tensile strength, stiffness, toughness) were evaluated. For the latter, resistance to flow was addressed as the flow velocity at which individuals detached. Under near- and far-future OW and OA, individuals fully balanced their acid-base status, but skeletal growth was halved. TF adhesive properties were not affected by treatments. Compared to the control, mechanical properties were in general improved under pHT7.7 while in the extreme treatment (21°C-pHT7.4) breaking force was diminished. Three behavioural strategies were implemented by sea urchins and acted together to cope with flow: improving TF attachment, streamlining and escaping. Behavioural responses varied according to treatment and flow velocity. For instance, individuals at 21°C-pHT7.4 increased the density of attached TF at slow flows or, controlled TF detachment at fast flow to compensate for weakened TF mechanical properties. They also showed an absence of streamlining favouring an escaping behaviour as they ventured in a riskier faster movement at slow flows. At faster flows, the effects of OW and OA were detrimental causing earlier dislodgment. These plastic behaviours reflect a potential scope for acclimation in the field, where this species already experiences diel temperature and pH fluctuations.

Usage notes

Location

Plage de l'Aber
North Atlantic
France