The Effects of Seawater Temperature on the Performance of the Tropical Sea Urchin Lytechinus variegatus (Lamarck, 1816)

• DOI: 10.1155/are/4003916
• Publication Date: 2025-04-02T16:37:07Z
• Authors: A. M. Lemus-Granados; M. A. Olivo-Cantillo; K. Medina-Lambraño; A. Rodríguez-Forero
• Keywords: Lytechinus variegatus

As seawater temperatures rise in the ocean due to global temperature change, altered mean precipitation, and weather patterns, native species face uncertain futures. The alteration thermal tolerance was assessed wild‐captured tropical sea urchins ( Lytechinus variegatus ) from Caribbean Sea then maintained under controlled conditions. Three experiments were performed: (1) favorable growth temperature: after maintaining wild at three different (22, 24 26°C) for 70 days, it observed that 22°C best performance. showed daytime behavior (higher activity 9:00−10:00 h), during this time period; (2) preference (TP): determined with help of a horizontal camera gradient (19–30°C), acclimation influenced TP urchins, since significantly higher number animals opted which they had been acclimated; (3) critical maximum (CTmax) minimum (CTmin): exposed progressive starting temperature, tolerated increase (up 14°C) better than decrease 12°C). These results thus contribute our knowledge urchin biology provide information about assessment comfort conditions farming.