Correlation analyses of covering and righting behaviors to fitness related traits of the sea urchin <Emphasis Type="Italic">Glyptocidaris crenularis</Emphasis> in different environmental conditions

Complex marine benthic environments shape a number of ecologically important behaviors in sea urchins, including covering and righting behaviors. The present study correlated covering and righting behaviors to a series of fitness-related traits in sea urchins. Righting response time of Glyptocidaris crenularis was significantly positively correlated with body size, but significantly negatively correlated with food consumption. Covering behavior was not significantly correlated with test diameter, test height or body weight, but covering response time was negatively correlated with body weight. A significantly negative correlation was found between righting response time and covering response time. Glyptocidaris crenularis showed a significantly positive correlation in covering response time with and without exposure to poured sand, but no significance in covering ability (number of shells used to cover). The present study provides new insight into internal mechanisms and evolutionary drives of covering and righting behaviors of sea urchins.     

Phenotypic correlations of somatic and gonad traits of sea urchins Glyptocidaris crenularis in two sampled periods: first insight into its breeding and aquaculture

Prior knowledge of the correlations among commercially important traits in Glyptocidaris crenularis can be used to guide development of breeding and aquaculture programs for this species. We evaluated the phenotypic correlations between somatic and gonadal traits in G. crenularis during two sample periods （October 2010 and April 2011）. The coefficients of variation （CV%） for body weight （BW）, redness （a＊）, yellowness （b＊）, gonad wet weight （GW）, and gonad index （GI） were 〉20% in both periods, while those of other traits were very low. GW was significantly correlated with somatic traits （diameter, height, and body weight） in both periods, although the correlation coefficients ranged from 0.473 to 0.636 （P〈0.01）. Gonad moisture content （GC）, a＊, and lightness （L＊） were not significantly correlated with somatic traits （P〉0.05）. The color trait b＊ was negatively correlated with somatic traits （test diameter, test height, and body weight） during the period when the gonads were well developed （April 2011, P〈0.05）. We observed little difference in the nature of the phenotypic correlations between the two sample periods. The high variation in the somatic and gonad weight traits in G. crenularis suggests there is considerable potential for selective breeding. However, our results suggest that gonad quality traits cannot be selected indirectly by selecting for body weight. Our study provides an insight into the method for improving the breeding and aquaculture of G. crenulari.     

Assessment of negative phototaxis in long-term fasted Glyptocidaris crenularis: a new insight into measuring stress responses of sea urchins in aquaculture

A cost-effective method was designed to measure the behavioral response of negative phototaxis to high-intensity illumination in the sea urchin Glyptocidaris crenularis.Ninety sea urchins were randomly and equally divided into two aquaculture environment groups:a fasted group,which was starved during the experiment,and a fed group.After 10 months,the total mortality of each group was recorded.Then,15 sea urchins were randomly selected from each group and behavioral responses to high-intensity illumination were investigated for each sea urchin.After the behavioral experiment,body measurements of the trial sea urchins were taken.The results reveal that food deprivation significantly affected test diameter(P<0.01),body weight(P<0.01),gonad weight(P<0.01),and gut weight(P<0.01).Furthermore,food deprivation also affected negative phototaxis behaviors of time to rapid spine movement(P<0.01),time to the 1 cm position(P<0.05),and walking distance in 300 s(P<0.01),but not time to body reaction(P>0.05).The mortality rates of fasted and fed urchins were 6.7%and 0%,respectively.The present study provides evidence that food deprivation has a significant effect on phenotypic traits and behavioral responses to high-intensity illumination in the sea urchin G.crenularis.With this method,environmental stressors can be easily detected by measuring proper optional indicators.This study provides a new insight into measuring stress responses of sea urchins in aquaculture.However,further studies should be carried out to understand more environmental factors and to compare this potential behavioral method with immune,physiological,and epidemiological approaches.