Multiyear trend in reproduction underpins interannual variation in gametogenic development of an Antarctic urchin

De Leij, Rebecca; Peck, Lloyd S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3479-6791; Grange, Laura J.. 2021 Multiyear trend in reproduction underpins interannual variation in gametogenic development of an Antarctic urchin. Scientific Reports, 11, 18868. 13, pp. 10.1038/s41598-021-98444-4

Before downloading, please read NORA policies.

Preview

Text (Open Access)
© The Author(s) 2021.
s41598-021-98444-4.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.
Download (1MB) | Preview

Official URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-98444-4

Abstract/Summary

Ecosystems and their biota operate on cyclic rhythms, often entrained by predictable, small-scale changes in their natural environment. Recording and understanding these rhythms can detangle the effect of human induced shifts in the climate state from natural fluctuations. In this study, we assess long-term patterns of reproductive investment in the Antarctic sea urchin, Sterechinus neumayeri, in relation to changes in the environment to identify drivers of reproductive processes. Polar marine biota are sensitive to small changes in their environment and so serve as a barometer whose responses likely mirror effects that will be seen on a wider global scale in future climate change scenarios. Our results indicate that seasonal reproductive periodicity in the urchin is underpinned by a multiyear trend in reproductive investment beyond and in addition to, the previously reported 18–24 month gametogenic cycle. Our model provides evidence that annual reproductive investment could be regulated by an endogenous rhythm since environmental factors only accounted for a small proportion of the residual variation in gonad index. This research highlights a need for multiyear datasets and the combination of biological time series data with large-scale climate metrics that encapsulate multi-factorial climate state shifts, rather than using single explanatory variables to inform changes in biological processes.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1038/s41598-021-98444-4
ISSN:	20452322
Additional Keywords:	Echinoderm, ecological pattern, El Niño, endogenous rhythm, Southern Oscillation Index, temporal series
Date made live:	30 Sep 2021 08:59 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/530389

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1038/s41598-021-98444-4

ISSN:

20452322

Additional Keywords:

Echinoderm, ecological pattern, El Niño, endogenous rhythm, Southern Oscillation Index, temporal series

Date made live:

30 Sep 2021 08:59 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/530389