One generation of inbreeding does not affect covering behavior of the sea urchinStrongylocentrotus intermedius

Abstract

To our knowledge, the genetic basis of covering behavior has never been investigated in sea urchins, although a number of hypotheses are well established to explain its potential significance since it was first documented more than 100 years ago. Whether there is a behavioral shift from juveniles to adults is also unknown in covering behavior. Here, we inbred sea urchins by one generation of full-and half-sibling inbreeding and then investigated the effects of inbreeding and age on covering behavior of Strongylocentrotus intermedius. Neither one generation of inbreeding nor age significantly affected time to first covering and number of shells used for covering according to both parametric and nonparametric analyses (p > 0.05). The present study clearly indicates that covering behavior is innate in spite of being susceptible to environmental conditions. Further studies should be carried out to test whether two and three generations of inbreeding can significantly affect covering behavior of sea urchins.

Tool use by four species of Indo-Pacific sea urchins

“…A big cluster of collector urchins is found in the Camarodonta, including collectors in the families of the Parechinidae, Strongylocentrotidae, Temnopleuridae and Toxopneustidae. We found one mention of an irregular echinoid (asymmetric sea urchins, sand dollars and their relatives) with covering behavior, the deep sea urchin Conolampas sigsbei, belonging to the family of the Echinolampadidae in the Neognathostomata branch of the irregularia (Zhao et al, 2013). We are aware that many irregularia bury themselves in the sediment.…”

Comparison of immune responses and antioxidant status of different generations of growth-selectedPortunus trituberculatusfamilies

“…Inbreeding is the mating of related individuals, and it is practically unavoidable in captured populations because of restricted population sizes. Inbreeding can reduce the genetic variability of the population, resulting in the depression of key performance traits (Zhao, Feng, Tian, Zhou, Sun & Chang ). Although many studies have demonstrated that inbreeding can affect morphology (Luan, Yang, Wang, Luo, Chen, Gao, Hu & Kong ), hatchability (Moss, Arce, Otoshi & Moss ) and survival (Luo, Kong, Luan, Meng, Zhang & Wang ) in crustaceans, to our knowledge, no information is available on the effects of inbreeding on the physiological status, particularly the immune and antioxidant defence systems of crustaceans.…”

Sea Urchin Covering Behavior: A Comparative Review

“…The reflexive hypothesis has been supported by several studies. One such study examined the covering behavior of Strongylocentrotus urchins and concluded that the reaction is innate because it is not affected by inbreeding or urchin age [8], suggesting that covering might not be decision based. It has also been noted that the stimuli often seemed to promote more activity in the animal [9].…”