Regeneration Rates of the Brittle Star Ophiocoma echinata Under Conditions of Near-Future Ocean Acidification and Temperature

Authors

Steven E. Bruzek

First Advisor

Heather Judkins, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, College of Arts and Sciences

Second Advisor

David John, Ph.D., Biology Instructor, College of Arts and Sciences

Publisher

University of South Florida St. Petersburg

Document Type

Thesis

Date Available

May 2014

Publication Date

2014

Date Issued

April 2014

Abstract

Ocean acidification is the result of uptake of atmospheric CO2 in the oceans. Anthropogenic CO2 emissions have increased rapidly since the start of the Industrial Revolution. Along with an increase in acidity, the ocean’s average temperature is rising from global warming. This study investigates the near-future (year 2100) effects of acidification and temperature on regeneration rates of the brittle star Ophiocoma echinata. Using HCl to induce acidification, regeneration rates for near-future conditions (pH 7.8 and temperature 30°C) did not decrease significantly from present conditions. Regeneration increased significantly with an increase in temperature alone, suggesting a complex interaction between temperature and acidity.

Comments

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the University Honors Program, University of South Florida St. Petersburg.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Bruzek, Steven E., "Regeneration Rates of the Brittle Star Ophiocoma echinata Under Conditions of Near-Future Ocean Acidification and Temperature" (2014). USF St. Petersburg campus Honors Program Theses (Undergraduate).
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/honorstheses/163