Sensitivity of sea urchin fertilization to pH varies across a natural pH mosaic.

ABSTRACT: In the coastal ocean, temporal fluctuations in pH vary dramatically across biogeographic ranges. How such spatial differences in pH variability regimes might shape ocean acidification resistance in marine species remains unknown. We assessed the pH sensitivity of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus in the context of ocean pH variability. Using unique male-female pairs, originating from three sites with similar mean pH but different variability and frequency of low pH (pH_T ≤ 7.8) exposures, fertilization was tested across a range of pH (pH_T 7.61-8.03) and sperm concentrations. High fertilization success was maintained at low pH via a slight right shift in the fertilization function across sperm concentration. This pH effect differed by site. Urchins fro

SUBMITTER: Kapsenberg L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5355180 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature