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Thesis
Density, Size, and Salinity Effects on Growth In Lytechinus Variegatus (ECHINODERMATA: ECHINOIDEA)
University of West Florida Libraries
Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida
2026
Abstract
Both salinity and density can cause changes in growth rates in a variety of marine organisms due to stress and competition, respectfully. This study measured growth for adult and juvenile sea urchins collected from T.H Stone Memorial St. Joseph Penisula State Park under both of these conditions. The first part of the study measured growth under varying salinities (25 g kg-1, 30 g kg-1, and 35 g kg-1) and size classes (small <23 mm, medium 29-38 mm, and large 45.5-55.5 mm), and the second measured growth under varying densities (2 juveniles, 4 juveniles, or 2 juveniles and 2 adults per tank). In both studies, test diameters were measured weekly, and a final Aristotle’s lantern dry weight and length, gut dry weight, and gonad dry weight were also taken. An initial sampling of each size class was dissected, and the difference between the initial and final were determined. For both size and salinity, no difference was found among treatments for gonad dry weights or Aristotle’s lantern dry weights. However, salinity did impact gut dry weight with urchins at 25 g kg-1 having lower weights than those at both 30 g kg-1 and 35 g kg-1 . Size class impacted test diameter (small and large < medium) and Aristotle’s lantern length (small < medium and large). For the adults in the density experiment, there was a significant increase for the Aristotle’s lantern dry weight, test diameter, and gonad dry weight, a significant decrease for Aristotle’s lantern length, and no change for gut dry weight. For the juveniles in the density study, there was no difference for gonad dry weight among treatments. The four juveniles treatment had less growth than both the two juveniles alone and the two juveniles with adults treatments for Aristotle’s lantern length, gut dry weight, and test diameter. For Aristotle’s lantern dry weight, the four juveniles treatment had less growth than the two juveniles treatment, which in turn had less than the juveniles with adults treatments.
Details
- Title
- Density, Size, and Salinity Effects on Growth In Lytechinus Variegatus (ECHINODERMATA: ECHINOIDEA)
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Contributors
- Christopher M. Pomory (Committee Chair)Viktoria Bogantes (Committee Member)Alexis Janosik (Committee Member)
- Publisher
- University of West Florida Libraries
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 62
- Copyright
- Permission granted to the University of West Florida Libraries by the author to digitize and/or display this information for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires the permission of the copyright holder.
- Identifiers
- 99381761451906600
- Academic Unit
- Biology; Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Master of Science (MS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida