title: Early development and molecular plasticity in the Mediterranean sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus exposed to CO2-driven acidification.
abstract: Ocean acidification is predicted to have significant effects on benthic calcifying invertebrates, in particular on their early developmental stages. Echinoderm larvae could be particularly vulnerable to decreased pH, with major consequences for adult populations. The objective of this study was to understand how ocean acidification would affect the initial life stages of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, a common species that is widely distributed in the Mediterranean Sea and the NE Atlantic. The effects of decreased pH (elevated P(CO(2))) were investigated through physiological and molecular analyses on both embryonic and larval stages. Eggs and larvae were reared in Mediterranean seawater at six pH levels, i.e. pH(T) 8.1, 7.9, 7.7, 7.5, 7.25 and 7.0. Fertilization success, survival, growth and calcification rates were monitored over a 3 day period. The expression of genes coding for key proteins involved in development and biomineralization was also monitored. Paracentrotus lividus appears to be extremely resistant to low pH, with no effect on fertilization success or larval survival. Larval growth was slowed when exposed to low pH but with no direct impact on relative larval morphology or calcification down to pH(T) 7.25. Consequently, at a given time, larvae exposed to low pH were present at a normal but delayed larval stage. More surprisingly, candidate genes involved in development and biomineralization were upregulated by factors of up to 26 at low pH. Our results revealed plasticity at the gene expression level that allows a normal, but delayed, development under low pH conditions.
authors: Marine Environment Laboratories, International Atomic Energy Agency, 4 Quai Antoine I, 98000 Principality of Monaco. sophie.martin@sb-roscoff.fr
authors: Sophie
authors: S
authors: Martin
authors: Sophie
authors: S
authors: Richier
authors: Maria-Luiza
authors: ML
authors: Pedrotti
authors: Sam
authors: S
authors: Dupont
authors: Charlotte
authors: C
authors: Castejon
authors: Yannis
authors: Y
authors: Gerakis
authors: Marie-Emmanuelle
authors: ME
authors: Kerros
authors: François
authors: F
authors: Oberhänsli
authors: Jean-Louis
authors: JL
authors: Teyssié
authors: Ross
authors: R
authors: Jeffree
authors: Jean-Pierre
authors: JP
authors: Gattuso
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007814:Larva / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D047328:Paracentrotus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002118:Calcium