Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

SS15 Biomechanics: Making the Connection Between Physics and Biology at the Organismal Level (Disciplinary Connections)

Date: Wednesday, February 14, 2001, Time: 12:15:00 PM

Location: Mesilla

Nishizaki, M, T, University of Northern British Columbia and the Bamfield Marine Station, Prince George/Bamfield, Canada, nishm000@unbc.ca

Ackerman, J, D, University of Northern British Columbia and the Bamfield Marine Station, Prince George/Bamfield, Canada, ackerman@unbc.ca

SHELTER FROM THE STORM: THE EFFECT OF FLUID DYNAMIC FACTORS ON JUVENILE SEA URCHIN BEHAVIOUR.

It has been suggested that the common occurrence of juvenile red sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus franciscanus) under the spines of adults is a response to predation and food availability. Recent results however, suggest that the distribution of juvenile urchins is also influenced by fluid motion. In laboratory experiments, juvenile sea urchins (6.50  0.11 mm TD) exhibited a significant increase (p < 0.001) in the percentage of sheltering juveniles under high energy water conditions (speed, U = 3.22 cm/s) compared to low energy conditions (U = 1.71 cm/s). Likewise, the proportion of juveniles sheltering was significantly increased (p = 0.003) using water passed over a starved predator (Pycnopodia helianthoides). Results of an ongoing study examining juvenile behavior when exposed to chemical cues will be also be discussed. It appears that fluid dynamic factors are important the early life history of sea urchins, possibly facilitating predator avoidance and nutritional gains.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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