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Variation in the reproductive cycle of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus in three differently polluted locations near Algiers (Algeria)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 May 2009

D. Soualili  and
M. Guillou
D. Soualili
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Biologie et d'Ecologie Marine, Faculté des Sciences de la Nature, Université des Sciences et Technologie Houari Boumedienne, Bab-Ezzouar, Algiers, Algeria
M. Guillou*
Affiliation:
Université de Brest, CNRS, UMR 6539, Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, Place N. Copernic, 29280 Plouzané, France
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: M. Guillou, Université de Brest, CNRS, UMR 6539, Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, Place N. Copernic, 29280 Plouzané, France email: mguillou@univ-brest.fr
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Abstract

The reproductive cycle of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus was studied in three sites situated in differently polluted locations near Algiers. Gonad indices and histological examination demonstrated a different pattern in the reproductive cycle between the population closest to the Algiers metropolis and the population situated outside the Algiers Bay. The former presented a clear yearly cycle with a high gonad index in spring followed by a spawning period. The latter showed a succession of smaller gonad indices and spawning periods throughout the year. Comparison of the three populations indicated that the higher the pre-spawning gonad increase, the lower the number of spawnings per year. The reproductive cycle was studied over two years that differed in seawater temperature. The 2-year comparison suggested that an early rising sea temperature triggered more precocious spawning, and higher spring and summer temperatures prolonged the spawning period. The pollution level did not act on the gonad index intensity.

Keywords

Paracentrotus lividusAlgeriagonad indexspawned stageseawater temperaturepollution
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 2 , January 2009 , e100
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2009

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References

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