Effects of Artificial Light at Night on Fitness-Related Traits of Sea Urchin (<i>Heliocidaris crassispina</i>)

Xiuwen Xu; Zexianghua Wang; Xiuqi Jin; Keying Ding; Jingwen Yang; Tianming Wang

doi:10.3390/ani13193035

Animals (Sep 2023)

Effects of Artificial Light at Night on Fitness-Related Traits of Sea Urchin (<i>Heliocidaris crassispina</i>)

Xiuwen Xu,
Zexianghua Wang,
Xiuqi Jin,
Keying Ding,
Jingwen Yang,
Tianming Wang

Affiliations

Xiuwen Xu: National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Marine Science and Technology College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
Zexianghua Wang: National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Marine Science and Technology College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
Xiuqi Jin: National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Marine Science and Technology College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
Keying Ding: National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Marine Science and Technology College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
Jingwen Yang: National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Marine Science and Technology College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
Tianming Wang: National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Marine Science and Technology College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13193035
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 19
p. 3035

Abstract

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Limited data are available regarding the effects of elevated coastal artificial light at night (ALAN) on intertidal echinoderms. In this study, we investigated the behavioral, morphological, and physiological responses of the sea urchin (Heliocidaris crassispina) after continuous exposure to ALAN at light intensities of 0.1, 300, and 600 Lux for 6 weeks. Our findings revealed that ALAN at 300 Lux substantially reduced food consumption, Lantern weight, and gonadosomatic index (GSI). On the other hand, ALAN at 600 Lux notably prolonged the righting and covering response times and elevated the 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio, while concurrently decreasing food consumption, body weight, Lantern weight, GSI, and Pax6 gene expression. These results indicated that continuous exposure to ALAN could cause an adverse effect on fitness-related traits, including behavioral responses, growth, reproductive performance, and photoreception of sea urchins. The present study provides new insights on the impact of light pollution on echinoderms.

Published in Animals

ISSN: 2076-2615 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Animal culture: Veterinary medicine; Science: Zoology
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/animals/

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