title: Thermal tolerance ofStrongylocentrotus purpuratusearly life history stages: mortality, stress-induced gene expression and biogeographic patterns.
abstract: In this study, we examined the differential thermal tolerance ofStrongylocentrotus purpuratusearly life history stages by comparing high temperature-induced mortality and the relative levels of the stress-induced gene,hsp70, betweenS. purpuratusembryos and larvae from adults collected throughout the species range. There was no significant difference between gastrulae and 4-arm plutei mortality from all sites examined. Furthermore, there was little variability in temperature tolerance across the biogeographic range as southern gastrulae and 4-arm plutei exhibited similar tolerances to northern individuals. Relative levels ofhsp70mRNA expression did not differ overall between the two developmental stages at each site. Across sites, all gastrulae and 4-arm plutei exhibited maximumhsp70expression at approximately 25°C; however, the range ofhsp70expression was narrower in southern individuals, suggesting they are living closer to their upper thermal limit than northern individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9620 USA.
authors.forename: LaTisha M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9620 USA.
authors.forename: Gretchen E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Hofmann