Data for: Tube feet regeneration and plasticity in the purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus)

Sea urchins are key members of hydrodynamically intense habitats, such as
open coast intertidal and shallow reefs. Secure attachment to the
substrata, by means of tube feet and spines, is essential for survival.
Previous studies suggest that environmental variables (i.e. hydrodynamics,
substrate) can influence the morphology and adhesive performance of tube
feet. Catastrophic failure of tube feet occurs often due to strong
hydrodynamic forces. The time and ability of amputated tube feet to return
to pre-amputation adhesive performance, and the interaction with
environmental factors are unknown. To assess the dynamics of adhesive
performance and re- generation of tube feet, we 1) evaluated phenotypic
plasticity of disc surface area of two urchin populations inhabiting sites
with different lithologies (field - in-situ conditions) and, 2) assessed
regeneration of their functionality (tube foot length, time of disc first
appearance, disc surface area, and tenacity) after amputation (laboratory
- ex-situ conditions). Results showed that in the field, tube feet are
plastic in their phenotype: sea urchins from the two sites differed in
their disc surface area. Plasticity was also observed in the laboratory,
where urchins regenerate tube feet that are shorter in length and have
smaller discs compared to pre-amputation measurements. Thus, sea urchin
tube feet recovering from amputation events in the intertidal may differ
in their initial morphology and in the recovery period after amputation.
Moreover, tube feet that were never amputated also decreased their disc
area, suggesting that plasticity occurs on tube feet of urchins maintained
in laboratory conditions. In shallow temperate reef systems, urchins are
ecosystem engineers that affect the abundance and distribution of many
other organisms. The plastic nature of morphological and adhesive
abilities of sea urchin tube feet influences their ability to survive and
dominate wave-battered habitats.