The last generation: F3 of Echinometra sea urchins under experimental climate change

A >6 years mesocosm experiment was conducted to study the ocean warming and acidification threat to calcifying marine invertebrates such as Echinoderms looking at the cross- or trans-generational plasticity (TGP) as a mechanism for organisms to cope with climate change.Marine invertebrates were exposed to climate stressors over multiple generations, rearing sea urchins at three climate scenarios (present day, predictions for 2050 and for 2100). Experimental treatments were conducted over 3 generations with Echinometra sp. A adults and larval between April 2016 and January 2022. Parental generation was sourced at Trunk Reef in the central Great Barrier Reef. Treatment conditions included:Ambient (present day) Temperature based on seasonal profiling average 1991-2012 recorded at Davies Reef; 400 ppm (daily variation = ±60 ppm pCO2)2050 (+ 1°C temperature increase; ~685 ppm pCO2) (daily variation = ±60 ppm pCO2)2100 (+ 2°C temperature increase; ~940 ppm pCO2) (daily variation = ±60 ppm pCO2)For full details see Uthicke, et al (2025)- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-024-04578-0