Meeting Abstract

29.2  Friday, Jan. 4  Turbulent sex: assessing the effects of oscillatory flow on fertilization in the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis. KREGTING, L.T.*; YUND, P.O.; BASS, A.L; THOMAS, F.I.M.; University of Hawaii and University of New England, ME; University of New England, ME; University of Hawaii; University of Hawaii kregting@hawaii.edu

Sea urchins live in a range of habitats from the intertidal to the subtidal so are exposed to various oscillatory flow conditions which are important when assessing fertilization. Oscillatory flow influences turbulence within the water column and affects shear at the surface of a sea urchin. Presently little is known how oscillatory flow influences fertilization. Generally studies have focused on the effects of unidirectional flow when assessing fertilization. In this study, we quantified the percentage of eggs fertilized on or near a spawning sea urchin (water column, eddy, substratum or aboral surface) at a range of oscillatory flows that are relevant to what a sea urchin may experience in the environment during the spawning season. Fertilization for the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis decreased with increasing turbulence, with the level of fertilization varying between each location.