A research paper co-written by biologists from Syracuse University examines the impact of varied water salinity levels on the adhesive abilities of sea urchins. Image source: Syracuse University
Scientific researchers at Syracuse University are probing into the impacts of increased freshwater, resulting from phenomena such as extreme rainfall events due to climate change, on the survival of sea urchins.
Similar to a car requiring good tire tread to maintain control during heavy rainfall, sea urchins also need to maintain their grip in the aquatic environment during intense rainstorms. These rainstorms can alter the sea’s salt composition, causing a decrease in salinity levels.
This seemingly insignificant change in salinity can critically impact sea urchins’ capacity to secure their tube feet to surrounding surfaces, much like tires need to grip the road. For these small marine creatures, this is more than a simple inconvenience – it’s a matter of life and death. Their adhesion mechanisms allow them to traverse through the wave-ridden rocks near the shoreline, and without this capability, their survival is threatened.
A study examining the influence of different water salinity levels on the adhesive abilities of sea urchins was co-authored by biologists from Syracuse University.
The existence of sea urchins is crucial for sustaining balance in marine ecosystems. Sea urchins are responsible for consuming around 45% of the algae found on coral reefs. If sea urchin populations were to disappear, coral reefs could become overrun by macroalgae, inhibiting coral growth. Given the critical role of coral reefs in coastal defense and biodiversity conservation, it’s imperative to protect the sea urchin population.
Syracuse University’s graduate student Andrew Moura (right) and Jack Cucchiara, a former undergraduate student at Villanova University, measure salinity levels among ten groups of sea urchins at Friday Harbor Laboratories. Image source: Syracuse University, University of Washington
With the progression of global climate change leading to a range of weather extremes, from heatwaves and droughts to heavy rain and flooding, massive amounts of freshwater entering nearshore ecosystems are altering these habitats. A team of biologists, led by Austin Garner, assistant professor in the Department of Biology at the College of Arts and Sciences, investigated the impacts of low salinity and its effects on sea urchins’ ability to adhere to and move within their habitat. Garner, a member of Syracuse University’s BioInspired Institute, conducts research into how animals attach to surfaces in variable environments from both life and physical science perspectives.
The team’s research, recently published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, sought to predict how sea urchin populations might be affected by future climatic extremes.
“Sea urchins, unlike many marine animals, aren’t very efficient at regulating the salt and water content in their bodies,” Garner explains. “This results in their existence being restricted to a narrow range of salinity levels. Heavy rain can cause large volumes of freshwater to pour into the sea along the coast, causing a rapid decrease in the concentration of salt in seawater.”
The team conducted their research at the University of Washington’s Friday Harbor Laboratories (FHL). Lead author of the study, Andrew Moura, a graduate student in Garner’s lab at Syracuse, traveled to FHL with Garner and researchers from Villanova University to conduct experiments with live green sea urchins. They collaborated with former FHL postdoctoral scholar Carla Narvaez, currently an assistant professor of biology at Rhode Island College, and professors Alyssa Stark and Michael Russell from Villanova University.
Syracuse University biology professor Austin Garner holding a sea urchin. Image source: Syracuse University
At FHL, the researchers classified sea urchins into ten groups based on various salinity levels within each tank, ranging from normal to extremely low salt content. They tested metrics such as righting response (the ability for sea urchins to flip themselves over), locomotion (speed of movement from one point to another), and adhesion (force required for their tube feet to detach from a surface) within each group. Garner and Moura analyzed the collected data in Garner’s lab at Syracuse to compare each metric.
The team discovered that the sea urchins’ righting response, movement, and adhesive capacity were all adversely affected by low salinity conditions. Interestingly, the adhesive ability of sea urchins was not severely impacted until extremely low salinity levels were reached, indicating that sea urchins may still maintain their grip in challenging nearshore environments, though activities requiring more coordinated tube feet usage (righting and movement) might be impaired.
Moura explains, “When we observe this decrease in performance under extremely low salinity, we might begin to notice shifts in sea urchin habitats due to their inability to stay attached in areas experiencing low salinity. This could potentially alter the amount of grazing by sea urchins, triggering significant ecosystem changes.”
Their research provides vital data that improves scientists’ ability to predict the fate of important marine creatures like sea urchins in a changing world. The principles of adhesion being studied by Garner and his team could also prove useful for the development of human-made adhesive materials – a mission in line with Syracuse University’s BioInspired Institute’s goal to tackle global challenges through innovative research.
“If we can understand the fundamental principles and molecular mechanisms that allow sea urchins to secrete a permanent adhesive for temporary attachment, we could utilize this knowledge to overcome design challenges of our current adhesives,” Garner states. “Imagine an adhesive that is otherwise permanent, but with the addition of another component, it can be removed and reapplied elsewhere. It’s a perfect example of how biology can be harnessed to enhance everyday products.”
Reference: “Hyposalinity reduces coordination and adhesion of sea urchin tube feet” by Andrew J. Moura, Austin M. Garner, Carla A. Narvaez, Jack P. Cucchiara, Alyssa Y. Stark and Michael P. Russell, 30 June 2023, Journal of Experimental Biology.
DOI: 10.1242/jeb.245750
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Climate Change Impact on Sea Urchins
How does climate change impact sea urchins?
Climate change, through increased heavy rainfall events, introduces excessive freshwater into the sea, altering its salt composition. This leads to lower salinity levels, which can significantly affect sea urchins’ ability to adhere their tube feet to the surrounding surfaces. This loss of grip threatens their survival as their adhesion mechanism allows them to traverse through wave-ridden rocks near the shoreline.
What role do sea urchins play in marine ecosystems?
Sea urchins play a crucial role in maintaining balance within marine ecosystems. They are responsible for grazing around 45% of the algae found on coral reefs. Without them, coral reefs could become overrun with macroalgae, which would inhibit coral growth. Coral reefs are important for coastal defense and the preservation of biodiversity.
What did the research at Syracuse University discover about sea urchins?
The researchers found that low salinity levels, caused by heavy rainfall and subsequent influx of freshwater into the sea, negatively affected sea urchins’ ability to flip themselves over, move, and adhere to surfaces. Interestingly, the adhesive ability of sea urchins wasn’t severely impacted until extremely low salinity levels were reached, suggesting they might still maintain their grip in challenging nearshore environments.
How does this research contribute to the field of adhesive materials?
The principles of adhesion being studied by the researchers could prove useful for the development of human-made adhesive materials. Understanding the fundamental principles and molecular mechanisms that allow sea urchins to secrete a permanent adhesive for temporary attachment could potentially be used to enhance the design of our current adhesives.
More about Climate Change Impact on Sea Urchins
- Effects of Climate Change on Marine Life
- Syracuse University BioInspired Institute
- The Role of Sea Urchins in Marine Ecosystems
- Impact of Freshwater on Ocean Salinity
- Journal of Experimental Biology
6 comments
Fascinating research! Never knew adhesive principles could be learnt from sea urchins. Maybe these scientists can help improve the glue in my workshop, haha.
That’s really sad news about the urchins! never thought climate change would impact them this way. can we do something to help?
It’s insane how something as simple as rain can mess up the marine ecosystem. i mean who’d have thought sea urchins needed certain salt levels to survive?
Reading this makes me worry about our future. So many things r linked in nature, damage 1 part, it all starts to crumble. Time we take it seriously!
I love snorkeling and see urchins often. To think they’re at risk due to heavy rain… just wow. Climate change really is a scary thing.
I love snorkeling and see urchins often. To think they’re at risk due to heavy rain… just wow. Climate change really is a scary thing.