Experimental field tests of natural algal diets on gonad index and quality in the green sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis: a case for rapid summer production in post-spawned animals

Vadas, Robert L.; Beal, Brian F.; Dowling, Tim; Fegley, Jill C.

doi:10.1016/s0044-8486(99)00254-9

Cited by 95 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Kelp is of limited nutritional value to sea urchins (Otero-Villanueva et al 2004) and leads to poor growth (Vadas et al 2000). These findings support the hypothesis by Kelly (2000) that differences in gonadal indices between intertidal and subtidal populations were a result of increased food quality and/or quantity available in the intertidal.…”

Section: Fatty Acid Analysissupporting

confidence: 75%

Gonad fatty acids and trophic interactions of the echinoid Psammechinus miliaris

Hughes¹,

Catarino²,

Kelly³

et al. 2005

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Variation in gonadal somatic indices (GSI) and fatty acid signatures of 2 contrasting Scottish west coast populations of the echinoid Psammechinus miliaris were examined. P. miliaris was sampled from both the shallow subtidal and at the upper limit of its distribution in the intertidal. The intertidal population had a significantly higher GSI than the subtidal at both locations. Multivariate analysis (ANOSIM) of the fatty acid signature showed significant variation between the 2 depths as well as between sex and location. SIMPER analysis indicated a complex pattern of variation between location and depths. Both 20:4(n-6) and 20:5(n-6), associated with brown algae, were found in higher levels in subtidal populations, while levels of 22:6(n-3) were higher in the intertidal at one site, and 18:4(n-3) higher at the other. Of these acids, 22:6(n-3) is associated with filter feeding invertebrates, and 18:4(n-3) with green algae. Omnivorous diets in urchins have been associated with increased gonadal growth and the results from this study strongly suggest that the observed differences in GSI between intertidal and subtidal P. miliaris result from a higher quality diet in the intertidal, consisting of invertebrates and green algae.

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Section: Fatty Acid Analysissupporting

confidence: 75%

Gonad fatty acids and trophic interactions of the echinoid Psammechinus miliaris

Hughes¹,

Catarino²,

Kelly³

et al. 2005

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…However, providing sea urchins with ample food and housing them in optimal conditions can improve the size and quality of urchin roe from barrens (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis: de Jong-Westman et al 1995, Russell 1998, Vadas et al 2000; Evechinus chloroticus: James et al 2007). This process, known as gonad conditioning, could allow us to view the vast numbers of urchins in barrens as a resource, rather than an ecological problem.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barrens of gold: gonad conditioning of an overabundant sea urchin

Pert¹,

Swearer²,

Dworjanyn³

et al. 2018

Aquacult. Environ. Interact.

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Overgrazing by the overabundant native purple urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma has caused kelp-dominated reefs to shift to urchin barrens throughout southeastern Australia. These areas are characterised by low kelp abundance, low biodiversity and high urchin densities. As purple urchin gonads are a delicacy in many countries, commercial harvest from barrens could aid kelp recovery. However, the lack of macroalgae in these habitats, driven by high urchin densities, results in urchins with small, poor-quality roe that is commercially undesirable. To overcome this, we assessed whether urchin gonad quantity and quality could be improved with access to high-quality feed and optimal environmental conditions, a process known as 'gonad conditioning'. Specifically, we (1) surveyed the quality of urchins from barrens and kelp sites in Port Phillip Bay, Australia, over 18 mo and (2) tested if gonad conditioning was effective on urchins from barrens during and after the harvest season. Field surveys revealed considerable variation in gonad size across sites, habitats and collection periods (mean gonad index range: 3 to 12%). Gonad conditioning with the best diet increased urchin gonad size by up to 2.8 times during the harvest season. Moreover, gonads of conditioned urchins from one barren were 3 times brighter in colour and contained lower concentrations of arsenic than wild urchins. In contrast, gonad conditioning at 22°C after the harvest season was ineffective. Our results show that targeted in-season harvest from barrens and subsequent gonad conditioning produces roe of commercial quality, promoting the use of urchin fisheries as a tool for managing urchin barrens.

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“…In some areas, the green sea urchin has been considered a pest as intensive grazing destroyed kelp habitats and limited the production of commercial species such as cod (Kålås et al 2006). On the other hand, it is fished and now cultured for roes in the Northwest Atlantic and Northeast Pacific (Vadas et al 2000). Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term and trans-life-cycle effects of exposure to ocean acidification in the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis

et al. 2012

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Anthropogenic CO 2 emissions are acidifying the world's oceans. A growing body of evidence demonstrates that ocean acidification can impact survival, growth, development and physiology of marine invertebrates. Here, we tested the impact of long-term (up to 16 months) and trans-life-cycle (adult, embryo/larvae and juvenile) exposure to elevated pCO 2 (1,200 latm, compared to control 400 latm) on the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis. Female fecundity was decreased 4.5-fold when acclimated to elevated pCO 2 for 4 months during reproductive conditioning, while no difference was observed in females acclimated for 16 months. Moreover, adult pre-exposure for 4 months to elevated pCO 2 had a direct negative impact on subsequent larval settlement success. Five to nine times fewer offspring reached the juvenile stage in cultures using gametes collected from adults previously acclimated to high pCO 2 for 4 months. However, no difference in larval survival was observed when adults were pre-exposed for 16 months to elevated pCO 2 . pCO 2 had no direct negative impact on juvenile survival except when both larvae and juveniles were raised in elevated pCO 2 . These negative effects on settlement success and juvenile survival can be attributed to carryover effects from adults to larvae and from larvae to juveniles. Our results support the contention that adult sea urchins can acclimate to moderately elevated pCO 2 in a matter of a few months and that carry-over effects can exacerbate the negative impact of ocean acidification on larvae and juveniles.

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Experimental field tests of natural algal diets on gonad index and quality in the green sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis: a case for rapid summer production in post-spawned animals

Cited by 95 publications

References 41 publications

Gonad fatty acids and trophic interactions of the echinoid Psammechinus miliaris

Gonad fatty acids and trophic interactions of the echinoid Psammechinus miliaris

Barrens of gold: gonad conditioning of an overabundant sea urchin

Long-term and trans-life-cycle effects of exposure to ocean acidification in the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis

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