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Echinodermata: Echiniodea) Jennifer Rhora University of South Florida University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 3-25-2005 Effect of Chromium VI on the Production and Behavior of Lytechinus variegatus (Echinodermata: Echiniodea) Jennifer Rhora University of South Florida Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the American Studies Commons Scholar Commons Citation Rhora, Jennifer, "Effect of Chromium VI on the Production and Behavior of Lytechinus variegatus (Echinodermata: Echiniodea)" (2005). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/833 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Effect of Chromium VI on the Production and Behavior of Lytechinus variegatus (Echinodermata: Echiniodea) by Jennifer Rhora A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Department of Biology College of Arts and Sciences University of South Florida Major Professor: John Lawrence, Ph.D. James Garey, Ph.D. Gordon Fox, Ph.D. Date of Approval: March 25, 2005 Keywords: Sea grass, Algae, Pollution, Heavy Metals, Toxicology Copyright 2005, Jennifer Rhora Dedication I would like to dedicate this thesis in honor of Lotte Geller who initially inspired me to pursue a career in the sciences. Without her encouragement and example I would not have chosen this path. Thank you Lotte. I would also like to honor my parents Carol and Gerald Rhora for their steadfast belief in me and their encouragement in pursuing my dreams. Lastly I would like to honor my professor Dr. John Lawrence and my committee Dr. James Garey and Dr. Gordon Fox for being so understanding and helpful throughout this entire endeavor. Table of Contents List of Tables.........................................................................................................ii List of Figures.......................................................................................................iv Abstract ................................................................................................................vi Introduction........................................................................................................... 1 Materials and Methods ......................................................................................... 7 Experiment 1............................................................................................. 7 Experiment 2............................................................................................. 9 Statistics .................................................................................................... 9 Results ............................................................................................................... 11 Experiment 1........................................................................................... 11 Experiment 2........................................................................................... 14 Discussion.......................................................................................................... 32 Experiment 1........................................................................................... 32 Experiment 2........................................................................................... 34 Summary............................................................................................................ 37 References......................................................................................................... 39 i List of Tables Table 1 A comparison of the heavy metal concentrations found in the sea grass, algae and echinoids....................................................... 2 Table 2 Non-significant results from experiment one after exposure to 0, 4.1 and 32 µg chromium/g dry weight for five weeks. (mean + standard error 0µg/g n=15, 4.1µg/g n=13, 32µg/g n=16)................................................................................. 12 Table 3 Analysis of variance for the net difference of the wet and dry weights of the gut, gonads, lantern and test and spines after exposure to 0, 4.1 and 32 µg Cr/ g DW for five weeks.................. 17 Table 4 Analysis of variance for the net difference of the percent inorganic and organic material of the gut, gonads, lantern and test and spines after exposure to 0, 4.1 and 32 µg Cr/ g DW for five weeks. ....................................................................... 18 Table 5 Analysis of variance for the net difference of the total organic content of the gut, gonads, lantern and test and spines after exposure to 0, 4.1 and 32 µg Cr/ g DW for five weeks.................. 19 Table 6 Repeated measures analysis of variance for the feeding rate of the urchins after exposure to 0, 4.1 and 32 µg Cr/ g DW for five weeks ..................................................................................... 19 Table 7 Repeated measures analysis of variance for the dry weight of feces produced, total organic content of feces produced by urchins and absorption efficiency of urchins exposed to 0, 4.1 and 32µg Cr/ g DW for five weeks. ............................................... 20 Table 8 Non-significant results from experiment two after exposure to 0, 41 and 82 Cr/ g DW for four weeks (means + standard error n=15 except for 41µg Cr/ g DW where n=13)....................... 23 Table 9 Net difference of percent inorganic material in the gonads after exposure to 0, 41 and 82µg Cr/ g DW (means + standard error n=14 except for 41µg Cr/ g DW where n=13)........ 24 Table 10 Analysis of variance for the net difference of wet and dry weights of the gut, gonads, lantern and test and spines after exposure to 0, 41 and 82µg Cr/ g DW for four weeks. ................. 24 ii Table 11 Analysis of variance for the net difference of percent inorganic and organic material in the gut, gonads, lantern and test and spines after exposure to 0, 41 and 82µg Cr/ g DW for four weeks..................................................................................... 28 Table 12 Analysis of variance for the net difference of total organic content in the gut, gonads, lantern and test and spines after exposure to 0, 41 and 82µg Cr/ g DW for four weeks. .................. 29 Table 13 Repeated measures analysis of variance for the amount eaten by the urchins exposed to 0, 41 and 82µg Cr/ g DW for four weeks..................................................................................... 29 Table 14 Repeated measures analysis of variance for the dry weight of feces produced, total organic content of feces produced by urchins and absorption efficiency of urchins exposed to 0, 41 and 82µg Cr/ g DW for four weeks................................................ 30 iii List of Figures Figure 1 Amount of ffod eaten per urchin per treatment during exposure to 0, 4.1 and 32µg Cr/ g DW for five weeks (means + standard error n=15, except for 32µg Cr/ g DW where n=16)............................................................................................. 13 Figure 2 Dry weight of feces during exposure to 0, 4.1 and 32µg Cr/ g DW for five weeks. (means + standard error 0µg Cr/ g DW n=15, 4.1µg Cr/ g DW n=13, 32µg Cr/ g DW n=16). ..................... 13 Figure 3 Total organic content of feces during exposure to 0, 4.1 and 32µg Cr/ g DW for five weeks. (means + standard error 0µg Cr/ g DW n=15, 4.1µg Cr/ g DW n=13, 32µg Cr/ g DW n=16). ..... 15 Figure 4 Absorption efficiency of organic material by the urchins during exposure to 0, 4.1 and 32µg Cr/ g DW for five weeks. (means + standard error 0µg Cr/ g DW n=15, 4.1µg Cr/ g DW n=13, 32µg Cr/ g DW n=16).................................................................... 15 Figure 5 A sea urchin exhibiting unusual spine formation........................... 16 Figure 6 The occurrence of the unusual spine behavior within treatments during exposure to 0, 4.1 and 32µg Cr/ g DW measured as presence/ absence. (means + standard error 0µg Cr/ g DW n=15, 4.1µg Cr/ g DW n=13, 32µg Cr/ g DW n=16). ...........................................................................................16 Figure 7 Net change in the wet weight of the gut after exposure to 0, 41 and 82µg Cr/ g DW for four weeks (means + standard error n=15 except for 41µg Cr/ g DW where n=13)....................... 21 Figure 8 Net change in the dry weight of the gut after exposure to 0, 41 and 82µg Cr/ g DW for four weeks (means + standard error n=13 except for 41µg Cr/ g DW where n=13)....................... 21 Figure 9 Net change in the total organic content of the gut after exposure to 0, 41 and 82µg Cr/ g DW for four weeks (means + standard error n=13 except for 41µg Cr/ g DW where n=13)..... 22 iv Figure 10 Amount of food eaten per urchin per treatment during exposure to 0, 41 and 82µg Cr/ g DW for four weeks. (means + standard error n=15 except for 41µg Cr/ g DW where n=13).................................................................................. 26 Figure 11 Dry weight of feces during exposure to 0, 41 and 82µg Cr/ g DW for four weeks. (means + standard error n=15 except for 41µg Cr/ g DW where n=13) ......................................................... 26 Figure 12 Total organic content of the feces during exposure to 0, 41 and 82µg Cr/ g DW for four weeks. (means + standard error
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