COMPARISON OF REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS IN TRIPNEUSTES GRATILLA AROUND OʻAHU

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2024

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Sea urchins are often regarded as an indicator species, meaning that their fertility and reproductive success can be used as a metric for water quality. The Environmental Protection Agency utilizes this in a protocol comparing water quality samples using the fertilization rate of urchin gametes. A previous study conducted at Moku o Loʻe sought to use this protocol to compare water quality of sites within Kāneʻohe Bay using hāwaʻe maoli (Tripneustes gratilla/Collector Urchin). However, that study revealed the potential for broader comparisons of fertilization rate of Collector Urchins from different areas of Oʻahu- especially between fertilization crosses of urchins from two different locations. In this study, four locations: Kāneʻohe Bay Patch Reefs, Kāneʻohe Bay Sampan Channel, Kahe Point and Kahanamoku Beach were compared. Fertilization rates were assessed from crosses of urchins among the same location, as well as fertilization crosses of urchins between locations. There were no significant differences between fertilization rates when comparing females of different sites, as such, fertilization results were compared by location of male urchins. After combining fertilization results from males within the same location and comparing them to females both within and among locations, resultant fertilization rates were as follows: Kāneʻohe Bay Patch Reefs - 56.6%, Kāneʻohe Bay Sampan Channel- 75.2%, Kahe Point- 83.5% and Kahanamoku Beach- 72.0%. At 56.6%, urchins from Kāneʻohe Bay Patch Reefs had a significantly lower fertilization rate than any other location. This location is also the site of significant Collector Urchin out planting efforts by the Department of Aquatic Resources (DAR) for biocontrol of invasive algae, and thus may have reduced fecundity resulting from captive rearing. Further research is needed to determine why male urchins from Kāneʻohe Bay Patch Reefs consistently yield lower rates of fertilization.

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ABSTRACT Sea urchins are often regarded as an indicator species, meaning that their fertility and reproductive success can be used as a metric for water quality. The Environmental Protection Agency utilizes this in a protocol comparing water quality samples using the fertilization rate of urchin gametes. A previous study conducted at Moku o Loʻe sought to use this protocol to compare water quality of sites within Kāneʻohe Bay using hāwaʻe maoli (Tripneustes gratilla/Collector Urchin). However, that study revealed the potential for broader comparisons of fertilization rate of Collector Urchins from different areas of Oʻahu- especially between fertilization crosses of urchins from two different locations. In this study, four locations: Kāneʻohe Bay Patch Reefs, Kāneʻohe Bay Sampan Channel, Kahe Point and Kahanamoku Beach were compared. Fertilization rates were assessed from crosses of urchins among the same location, as well as fertilization crosses of urchins between locations. There were no significant differences between fertilization rates when comparing females of different sites, as such, fertilization results were compared by location of male urchins. After combining fertilization results from males within the same location and comparing them to females both within and among locations, resultant fertilization rates were as follows: Kāneʻohe Bay Patch Reefs - 56.6%, Kāneʻohe Bay Sampan Channel- 75.2%, Kahe Point- 83.5% and Kahanamoku Beach- 72.0%. At 56.6%, urchins from Kāneʻohe Bay Patch Reefs had a significantly lower fertilization rate than any other location. This location is also the site of significant Collector Urchin out planting efforts by the Department of Aquatic Resources (DAR) for biocontrol of invasive algae, and thus may have reduced fecundity resulting from captive rearing. Further research is needed to determine why male urchins from Kāneʻohe Bay Patch Reefs consistently yield lower rates of fertilization.

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Quinn, Mariko

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