Response of Nematostella vectensis to abiotic stressors.

The aim of the project was to characterize a stress response in Nematostella vectensis to elevated temperatures, salinity, and UV exposure. Our study focused on two populations (North Carolina and Massachusetts). Animals were acclimated to laboratory conditions (24 hours in the dark at 20 degrees Celsius). After the acclimation period triplicates were exposed to various stressors (36 degrees Celsius, UV exposure, and 40ppt salinity) for 24 hours, while controls were kept at 20 C for 24 hours in the dark at 15 ppt.