Rock Boring Urchin



Long Spined Urchin

 

For this experiment two different types of urchins were collected and observed.  These two urchins were the Diadema antillarum (the long spined urchin, which is the bottom picture), and the Echinometra lucunter (The rock boring urchin, which is the top picture).  As can be seen from the top picture, the Echinometra lucunter  are generally found in the crevices of rocks or coral.  Therefore, these urchins are not as exposed to the changing conditions of the water.  The long spined urchins are generally found on top of rocks, or on top of the sandy bottom, but are almost always out in the open. Therefore, these urchins are generally more exposed to the changing conditions around them.  The sea urchins were collected from different depths, varying from just below the surface of the water to 3m down.  Only the rock boring urchins were found just below the surface of the water (shallow depths), however both urchins were found when they were collected at a depth of 3m below the surface.  Diadmea were always found 30cm below the surface or deeper.  All urchins were brought into a laboratory and were tested three days after being collected.  During this time they were not fed, and where in tanks with other urchins in natural lighting conditions. 

Information Credit: Sherman E.  2015.  Can sea urchins beat the heat? Sea urchins, thermal tolerance, and climate change.  [Cited November 16, 2015].  PeerJ 3:e1006  Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.1006

Photo credit:
Myself