Date of Project

4-26-2019

Document Type

Honors Thesis

School Name

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Biology

Major Advisor

Dr. Roberta Challener

Second Advisor

Dr. Mary Huff

Third Advisor

Dr. Steven Wilt

Abstract

Many sea urchins play important ecological roles in their environments, and it is important to study the impacts of environmental stressors on their physiology. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure has significant negative impacts on marine organisms including an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxidative damage by ROS at the cellular level can cause lipid peroxidation, DNA fragmentation, and even cell death that may result in inflammation or disease. To prevent this cellular damage, organisms generate enzymes, such as catalase, that breakdown ROS into harmless substances. Elevated catalase activities under UVB, a range of UVR from 280–315 nm, exposure have been detected for many aquatic organisms. Yet, it is unknown whether UVB exposure affects the activity of these antioxidant enzymes in many sea urchin species. Lytechinus variegatus is well known for its covering behavior in response to UVR exposure whereas Arbacia punctulata does not cover with any materials and remains fully exposed. In this study, coelomocytes of L. variegatus and A. punctulata were exposed to UVB (302 nm) for one or two hours, and catalase activity was measured using colorimetric assays. Results suggest UVB exposure decreases catalase activity in the coelomocytes of L. variegatus (p = < 0.0001, t-test) and A. punctulata (p = 0.0097, t-test). Percent difference calculations found a greater percent decrease in catalase activity occurring in the coelomocytes of L. variegatus than in A. punctulata (p = 0.0485, t-test). Whether these observed differences in antioxidant activity are associated with covering behavior is yet to be determined.

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