Induction to maturation of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) under laboratory conditions.
Laboratory experiments were carried out over two different periods, with the aim of investigating and utilizing the induction to gonadal maturation of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. The final objective was to obtain viable gametes outside the period of natural spawning in the environment; which would allow the utilization of ecotoxicological bioassays with sea urchin larvae at any time of the year. The experiment consisted of maintaining some sea urchins in tanks and providing them with a natural photoperiod, unlimited food and a constant temperature of 20 degrees C. During days 0, 30, 60 and 90, gonads from 15 of these sea urchins were compared with those collected simultaneously in the natural environment. The gametes obtained were used to carry out fecundations, in order to check their viability. The final results obtained were clearly influenced by the gonadal state of the sea urchins at the initial stage of the experiment. The best results were obtained within a time period of 60 days and when the initial gonad index was low.
Garmendia
Joxe Mikel
JM
AZTI - Tecnalia, Herrera kaia portualdea z/g, 20110 Pasaia, Spain. jgarmendia@azti.es
Menchaca
Iratxe
I
Belzunce
María Jesús
MJ
Franco
Javier
J
Revilla
Marta
M
D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002470:Cell Survival; D006066:Gonads / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D009929:Organ Size; D047328:Paracentrotus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*; D013997:Time Factors