The direct effects of UV radiation on embryo and larval development and survival, and DNA damage of Sterechinus neumayeri

Five day in situ UVR exposures were made at three exposure depths (0.5, 1.5 and 5m) and three UV treatments (UV-B-, ambient UV-R- and Full UV) on three development stages (freshly fertilised eggs, early embryos blastula/gastrula and 4-armed pluteus larvae). The eggs of the nemertean worm Parbolarsia were also exposed and analysed. A second experiment was conducted where the period of exposure was extended to assess the effects of UVR over a longer period of larval development.

During this time, embryos were exposed to one of two UVR treatments at 2 depths below the sea ice (0.5 and 5m) and were sampled at four times after outplanting. A third experiment involved in vitro experiments using 4 early development stages including freshly fertilised eggs, gastrula, freshly hatched blastula and 4 armed plutei were exposed to 295, 305, 320, 335, 345, 360, 375 and 400nm UVR wavelengths. Quantification of cytokinesis and cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer formation were analysed in New Zealand.

Experiments were conducted over a number of seasons to build up an understanding on the relationship between in situ UV-B and damage to larvae under varying column ozone concentrations (the ozone hole is different every year).