The Effects of Ocean Acidification on the Development of Lytechinus variegatus (Green Sea Urchins)
نویسندگان
چکیده
Breanna C. DeGroot University of North Carolina Wilmington Faculty Mentor: Heather Koopman University of North Carolina Wilmington ABSTRACT The purpose of this experiment was to study the effects of ocean acidification on early spicule formation and development in Lytechinus variegatus (green sea urchins). After induced spawning of adult green sea urchins occurred the larvae were placed in a control (8.1pH) and experimental (7.6 pH) tank of equivalent salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, volume, and sea water. Soon after fertilization was confirmed ten randomly selected larvae from each tank were observed and recorded using a compound microscope. Our results showed similar rates of growth in the early stages of development (Fertilization hour 6) with significant differences in later development (hours 12 22). Overall, this experiment was successful in observing the effects of ocean acidification in developing Lyechinus variegatus sea urchins; however, more experiments should be conducted to verify the results and reduce the extinction rate of the acidic environment.
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