Environmental challenge trials induce a biofluorescent response in the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis

Abstract Stress in sea urchins leads to high mortality and economic losses in both the environment and aquaculture. The green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis has been documented emitting complex biofluorescence, yet how this responds to external stressors is unknown. Adult sea urchins (...

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Main Authors: Thomas Juhasz-Dora, Stein-Kato Lindberg, Philip James, Tor Evensen, Samuel Ortega
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77648-4
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author Thomas Juhasz-Dora
Stein-Kato Lindberg
Philip James
Tor Evensen
Samuel Ortega
author_facet Thomas Juhasz-Dora
Stein-Kato Lindberg
Philip James
Tor Evensen
Samuel Ortega
author_sort Thomas Juhasz-Dora
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Stress in sea urchins leads to high mortality and economic losses in both the environment and aquaculture. The green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis has been documented emitting complex biofluorescence, yet how this responds to external stressors is unknown. Adult sea urchins (n = 210) were divided between control (n = 30) and experimental groups (n = 180), using three transport variables: out of water, in water at elevated temperatures, (warm-water) and in water at seawater temperature (cold-water). Hyperspectral imaging of external fluorescence and fluorospectrometric analysis on coelomic fluid was measured at five intervals (hour 0,3,6,9,12). External green emissions (∼580 nm) responded to all treatments, peaking at h9. External red emissions (∼680–730 nm) in the cold-water remained low until an h9 peak. The warm water increased emissions at each interval, peaking at h9. The out of water gradually increased, with the highest at h12. The coelomic fluid fluorescence (∼680 nm) was low to nonexistent except in warm-water, whose elevated levels suggest that fluorescent emissions are a measurable byproduct of internal adaptation(s) to stress. Early detection of fluorescent emissions (broken spines, lesions) may prevent economic losses. The observed link between fluorescence and the applied stressors provides a baseline for developing non-invasive technology for improving echinoderm welfare.
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spelling doaj-art-654cac2e764e44b98aeb71391c0150512025-08-20T02:50:07ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-11-0114111410.1038/s41598-024-77648-4Environmental challenge trials induce a biofluorescent response in the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensisThomas Juhasz-Dora0Stein-Kato Lindberg1Philip James2Tor Evensen3Samuel Ortega4Bantry Marine Research StationNofima ASNofima ASNofima ASNofima ASAbstract Stress in sea urchins leads to high mortality and economic losses in both the environment and aquaculture. The green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis has been documented emitting complex biofluorescence, yet how this responds to external stressors is unknown. Adult sea urchins (n = 210) were divided between control (n = 30) and experimental groups (n = 180), using three transport variables: out of water, in water at elevated temperatures, (warm-water) and in water at seawater temperature (cold-water). Hyperspectral imaging of external fluorescence and fluorospectrometric analysis on coelomic fluid was measured at five intervals (hour 0,3,6,9,12). External green emissions (∼580 nm) responded to all treatments, peaking at h9. External red emissions (∼680–730 nm) in the cold-water remained low until an h9 peak. The warm water increased emissions at each interval, peaking at h9. The out of water gradually increased, with the highest at h12. The coelomic fluid fluorescence (∼680 nm) was low to nonexistent except in warm-water, whose elevated levels suggest that fluorescent emissions are a measurable byproduct of internal adaptation(s) to stress. Early detection of fluorescent emissions (broken spines, lesions) may prevent economic losses. The observed link between fluorescence and the applied stressors provides a baseline for developing non-invasive technology for improving echinoderm welfare.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77648-4
spellingShingle Thomas Juhasz-Dora
Stein-Kato Lindberg
Philip James
Tor Evensen
Samuel Ortega
Environmental challenge trials induce a biofluorescent response in the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis
Scientific Reports
title Environmental challenge trials induce a biofluorescent response in the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis
title_full Environmental challenge trials induce a biofluorescent response in the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis
title_fullStr Environmental challenge trials induce a biofluorescent response in the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis
title_full_unstemmed Environmental challenge trials induce a biofluorescent response in the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis
title_short Environmental challenge trials induce a biofluorescent response in the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis
title_sort environmental challenge trials induce a biofluorescent response in the green sea urchin strongylocentrotus droebachiensis
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77648-4
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