Impacts of rapid environmental change on the reproduction and fertilisation dynamics of marine invertebrates, using an urchin model
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: Sch of Ocean and Earth Science
Abstract
Human driven environmental forcing is producing broad-scale change in marine ecosystems. The Polar-Regions, which have experienced rapid regional change, house relict faunas adapted to constant temperatures over millennia. These regions provide early warning systems against climate change, and therefore unique opportunities to evaluate the effects of environmental variability on species persistence. Although climate change affects marine organism physiology and behaviour, the impacts of environmental variation on fundamental functions, e.g. reproduction, remain poorly understood. Reproductive success is an evolutionary mechanism that determines species persistence and survival. It is therefore important to understand how reproductive processes respond to environmental change. In broadcast spawners (gametes released and fertilised in the water column, i.e. eggs and sperm), processes determining gamete function and fertilisation-success determine reproductive efficiency. Studies show variation in population and environmental parameters (sperm-dilution, sperm-egg ratio, gamete age and contact time; seawater temperature, salinity and pH) alters gamete function. However, mechanistic knowledge of how these changes impact the resilience of broadcast spawners is lacking. Time-series samples of urchin reproduction collected since 2012 will be used to elucidate how environmental change: (1) has impacted long-term reproductive cycles of the Antarctic sea urchin Sterechinus neumayeri; (2) affects fertilisation-success and population persistence of this circumpolar species.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Laura Grange (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Rebecca De Leij (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NE/W503150/1 | 01/04/2021 | 31/03/2022 | |||
| 1941587 | Studentship | NE/W503150/1 | 01/10/2017 | 03/01/2022 | Rebecca De Leij |
| Description | BES Training & Travel Grant |
| Amount | £500 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | TT19/1008 |
| Organisation | British Ecological Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2019 |
| End | 11/2019 |
| Title | Reproductive time-series for Antarctic sea urchin, Sterechinus neumayeri |
| Description | Unique database of reproductive data collected from 2012 to 2019, where information of reproductive condition of the Antarctic sea urchin, Sterechinus neumayeri, has been measured and analysed. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The data and research outcomes of this timeseries is currently being prepared for publication and will hence be used by the scientific community to further understand the potential impacts of the marine environment on reproduction in marine invertebrates. |
| Description | British Antarctic Survey |
| Organisation | British Antarctic Survey |
| Department | Aurora Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Learned Society |
| PI Contribution | Carried out two months of research at Rothera research station to understand the effect of marine heat waves on the reproduction and functioning of the Antarctic sea urchin. Sterechinus neumayeri. For this purpose, I set-up and ran experiments for this duration, from which I obtained novel data on how Antarctic marine invertebrates respond to short-term warming in terms of reproductive development and basic functioning. This data is likely to contribute to the growing |
| Collaborator Contribution | The contributions by the British Antarctic Survey were made through the Collaborative Antarctic Science Scheme (CASS), which provides access to Antarctic logistics and financial support to cover some specific costs including flights from the UK to the Antarctic gateway, accommodation, subsistence and transfer at the gateway, polar clothing, medical examination and pre deployment training. Projects funded through CASS are eligible to access the UK funded NERC-BAS Antarctic facilities and logistics support 'free at the point of use'. |
| Impact | Submission of an absract for an oral presentation at the SCAR2020 conference in Hobart . |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | EGU Blog |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A blog was written on behalf of the Blogs of the European Geosciences Union on my research conducted in Antarctica. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://blogs.egu.eu/divisions/cr/2020/02/28/boom-and-bust-beneath-the-ice/ |
| Description | Public engment with science onboard the University reseach vessel in the Southampton boat show |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Stands on-board the research boat included a microscope which displayed organisms which lived in the waters around Southampton. Discussions with the public sparked further questions about life in UK waters, whereby many were surprised to learn the diversity which inhabit these regions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |