Family growth response to different laboratory culture environments shows genotype-environment interaction in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius

Abstract

This study investigated the genetic variation and genotype-environment interaction (GEI) in the early growth stage among seven full-sib families of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius. From each of the seven families, 180 or 270 sea urchins of the same size were exposed to three laboratory environments (E 1 , E 2 and E 3 ). These environments were commonly used in breeding programs for S. intermedius. After a 102 days trial, test height, test diameter, body weight and the coefficient of variation of body weight were determined. The results revealed significant family effects on most growth traits in all the three environments (except for test diameter in environment E 2 ), and significant environmental effects on growth in several families (family 1, 5, 6, 7). The study also revealed that the coefficient of variation in body weight varied significantly among the families (P < 0.01) but not among the environments. Highly significant GEI effects were also recorded for all growth traits (P 0.001), except for the coefficient of variation in body weight (P > 0.05). Variances of GEI accounted for about 0-2.742% of phenotypic variances for the investigated traits. Significant GEI caused a certain degree family ranking inversions for the growth traits. The present study provides evidence for the existence of GEI in the family selection of sea urchin S. intermedius. More attention should be paid to the GEI to obtain satisfactory genetic gain in S. intermedius.

Family Growth and Survival Response to Two Simulated Water Temperature Environments in the Sea Urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius

“…Family did not significantly affect the growth traits during P1, but did significantly affect growth traits during the other three periods (results by GLM analysis). This differed from previous studies [19], where it was reported that family had a significant effect on the growth of S. intermedius during early growth stages (six months old to 10 months old). One potential reason for this difference is that sea urchins selected by Zhang et al [19] were similar in size whereas.…”

“…At harvest, the proportion of variance explained by family for BW had reached 20.686%. Zhang et al estimated the proportion of variance explained by family for TD and BW as 0.465%–0.944% [19]. These results were much lower than our results.…”

“…These results were much lower than our results. The reason might be the proportion of variance explained by error in our study was less than that in the study of Zhang et al [19]. The two environments in this study differed in temperature only.…”

Growth rates are related to production efficiencies in juveniles of the sea urchinLytechinus variegatus

“…(2002) studies. However, recent studies indicate that differences in intrinsic growth rates in this study may be attributed to genetic variability (Liu et al ., 2003, 2005; Zhang et al ., 2012). …”

“…Extrinsic factors affecting growth include availability and nutrient content, bioavailability of nutrients (Lawrence & Lane, 1982), habitat (Ebert, 1968; Agatsuma, 2007; Andrew & Byrne, 2007), population density (Siikavuopio et al ., 2007; Richardson et al ., 2011), competition (Grosjean et al ., 1996), osmotic condition (Giese & Farmanfarmaian, 1963), and temperature (Moore et al ., 1963; Agatsuma, 2007). Intraspecific variability in sea urchin growth rates may also be related to genetic variation, genomic expression, or epigenetic influences, some of which have been described in sea urchins (Liu et al ., 2003, 2005; Zhang et al ., 2012). …”