| Summary: | Progress Code: completed Statement: The values provided in temporal and spatial coverage are approximate only. Taken from the 2009-2010 Progress Report: Variations to work plan or objectives: The main focus of experiments were changed from fertilisation and larval development of invertebrates to calcification of juvenile echinoderms with existing skeleton under predicted ocean warming and acidification scenarios. This occurred because adults of S. neumayeri collected around Davis had already passed their spawning period by the time the aquarium field module was set-up and running. Eight trials on L. elliptica were conducted to see if they were a good substitute species, but all attempts were unsuccessful. Field work: Initial collection of S. neumayeri were carried out around Davis station, mostly through snorkelling around Ellis Fjord. A. nimrodi were collected for us by the divers and were mostly taken from the mouth of Heidemann Bay. L. elliptica were also collected by the divers, however they were obtained from a variety of locations. Animals were collected as and when we needed them. Laboratory activity/analysis: Animals were dissected no later than a couple of days after they were brought in by divers. For experiments involving A. nimrodi, juveniles were collected from the brood pouch of the parent and separated into two classes (early and late) of juveniles. They were then photographed individually and placed into our treatments in batches of 10. Experiments were run for 4 weeks in order to see a stronger effect of ocean warming and acidification on calcification. After 4 weeks, juveniles were taken out and photographed again to document any changes, then they were preserved in trace amounts of 2.5% glutaraldehyde and returned to Australia for further analysis. A total of 2 trials were conducted. For L. elliptica, animals were dissected and strip-spawned to obtain gametes. These gametes were fertilised under different sperm concentrations in order to discover the optimal sperm concentration needed for ...
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