Carryover effects of short-term UV-B radiation on fitness related traits of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius

Abstract

Carryover effects of UV-B radiation are largely unknown in marine invertebrates, despite the ecological importance. For the first time, we investigated fitness related traits of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius 8 weeks after short-term (1 h) UV-B radiations (0, 10 and 20 µW cm−2). Short-term UV-B radiations had significant negative effects on survival, food consumption, test diameter, test height, test height:test diameter, gonad weight and crude protein of gonads of S. intermedius, despite of the absence of UV-B radiation for 8 weeks. Survival, food consumption and crude protein of gonads were significantly lowest in S. intermedius exposed to UV-B radiation at 20 µW cm−2, highlighting that 20 µW cm−2 is a dangerous UV-B radiation intensity for the fitness of sea urchins (at least S. intermedius). Gonads were significantly more sensitive to UV-B radiation than the gut. The present study increases our understanding of carryover effects of UV-B radiations on sea urchins and provides valuable information into marine environmental safety.