Population genomics responses in the sea urchin Echinometra embryos and larvae subjected to elevated pCO2 at volcanic vents

Ocean Acidification (OA) has detrimental effects on many calcifying marine organisms due to impaired biomineralization of skeletal structures.A stunting of growth and abnormal development in invertebrate larvae, such as in sea urchins, is one of the most consistent effects of OA observed across species and climate zones. We generated a high quality transcriptome assembly of Echinometra early embryos. We analysed this transcriptome to test for outlier SNPs and functional enrichment in embryos and larvae raised from adults of the control site with present day OA conditions and those at the vent site with future (~2100) OA conditions. We detected little evidence for a potential of adaptation during the first 2 days of larval development. The Echinometra sp. C. transcriptome assemblies will be an important resource for future adaptation studies of the keystone coral reef species.