Genetic variation underlies temperature tolerance of embryos in the sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma armigera. 2013

R A Lymbery, and J P Evans
Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009, WA, Australia.

Ocean warming can alter natural selection on marine systems, and in many cases, the long-term persistence of affected populations will depend on genetic adaptation. In this study, we assess the potential for adaptation in the sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma armigera, an Australian endemic, that is experiencing unprecedented increases in ocean temperatures. We used a factorial breeding design to assess the level of heritable variation in larval hatching success at two temperatures. Fertilized eggs from each full-sibling family were tested at 22 °C (current spawning temperature) and 25 °C (upper limit of predicted warming this century). Hatching success was significantly lower at higher temperatures, confirming that ocean warming is likely to exert selection on this life-history stage. Our analyses revealed significant additive genetic variance and genotype-by-environment interactions underlying hatching success. Consistent with prior work, we detected significant nonadditive (sire-by-dam) variance in hatching success, but additionally found that these interactions were modified by temperature. Although these findings suggest the potential for genetic adaptation, any evolutionary responses are likely to be influenced (and possibly constrained) by complex genotype-by-environment and sire-by-dam interactions and will additionally depend on patterns of genetic covariation with other fitness traits.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D010641 Phenotype The outward appearance of the individual. It is the product of interactions between genes, and between the GENOTYPE and the environment. Phenotypes
D004625 Embryo, Nonmammalian The developmental entity of a fertilized egg (ZYGOTE) in animal species other than MAMMALS. For chickens, use CHICK EMBRYO. Embryonic Structures, Nonmammalian,Embryo, Non-Mammalian,Embryonic Structures, Non-Mammalian,Nonmammalian Embryo,Nonmammalian Embryo Structures,Nonmammalian Embryonic Structures,Embryo Structure, Nonmammalian,Embryo Structures, Nonmammalian,Embryo, Non Mammalian,Embryonic Structure, Non-Mammalian,Embryonic Structure, Nonmammalian,Embryonic Structures, Non Mammalian,Embryos, Non-Mammalian,Embryos, Nonmammalian,Non-Mammalian Embryo,Non-Mammalian Embryonic Structure,Non-Mammalian Embryonic Structures,Non-Mammalian Embryos,Nonmammalian Embryo Structure,Nonmammalian Embryonic Structure,Nonmammalian Embryos,Structure, Non-Mammalian Embryonic,Structure, Nonmammalian Embryo,Structure, Nonmammalian Embryonic,Structures, Non-Mammalian Embryonic,Structures, Nonmammalian Embryo,Structures, Nonmammalian Embryonic
D005260 Female Females
D005306 Fertilization The fusion of a spermatozoon (SPERMATOZOA) with an OVUM thus resulting in the formation of a ZYGOTE. Conception,Fertilization, Delayed,Fertilization, Polyspermic,Conceptions,Delayed Fertilization,Delayed Fertilizations,Fertilizations,Fertilizations, Delayed,Fertilizations, Polyspermic,Polyspermic Fertilization,Polyspermic Fertilizations
D000220 Adaptation, Biological Changes in biological features that help an organism cope with its ENVIRONMENT. These changes include physiological (ADAPTATION, PHYSIOLOGICAL), phenotypic and genetic changes. Adaptation, Biologic,Biological Adaptation,Biologic Adaptation
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013696 Temperature The property of objects that determines the direction of heat flow when they are placed in direct thermal contact. The temperature is the energy of microscopic motions (vibrational and translational) of the particles of atoms. Temperatures
D047108 Embryonic Development Morphological and physiological development of EMBRYOS. Embryo Development,Embryogenesis,Postimplantation Embryo Development,Preimplantation Embryo Development,Embryonic Programming,Post-implantation Embryo Development,Postnidation Embryo Development,Postnidation Embryo Development, Animal,Pre-implantation Embryo Development,Prenidation Embryo Development, Animal,Development, Embryo,Development, Embryonic,Development, Postnidation Embryo,Embryo Development, Post-implantation,Embryo Development, Postimplantation,Embryo Development, Postnidation,Embryo Development, Pre-implantation,Embryo Development, Preimplantation,Embryonic Developments,Embryonic Programmings,Post implantation Embryo Development,Pre implantation Embryo Development
D047329 Anthocidaris A genus of SEA URCHINS synonymous with Heliocidaris, belonging to the family Echinometridae. Heliocidaris,Anthocidaris crassispina,Anthocidari,Anthocidaris crassispinas,Heliocidari,crassispina, Anthocidaris

Related Publications

R A Lymbery, and J P Evans
January 2019, Journal of biological methods,
R A Lymbery, and J P Evans
January 1969, Zeitschrift fur Zellforschung und mikroskopische Anatomie (Vienna, Austria : 1948),
R A Lymbery, and J P Evans
July 2009, Molecular ecology resources,
R A Lymbery, and J P Evans
January 2009, Development genes and evolution,
R A Lymbery, and J P Evans
October 1994, Roux's archives of developmental biology : the official organ of the EDBO,
R A Lymbery, and J P Evans
December 2003, Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution,
Copied contents to your clipboard!