Effects of UV-B radiation on fitness related behaviors of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius

Ozone depletion induced by anthropogenic gases has been increasing the transmission of solar ultraviolet-B radiation(UV-B, 280–315 nm) through the atmosphere, which may impact the fitness of marine invertebrates in intertidal and shallow waters. To our knowledge, however, the responses of fitness related behaviors to UV-B radiation at different intensities have been rarely studied in marine invertebrates. For the first time, the present study investigated the eff ects of exposure of one hour to UV-B radiation at different intensities on foraging behavior, Aristotle's lantern reflex and righting behavior of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius. Exposure of one hour to UV-B radiation at 10 μW/cm^2 significantly reduced foraging behavior. An intensity dependent eff ect of exposure to UV-B radiation was found in the duration of the Aristotle's lantern reflex. Exposure to UV-B radiation at 20 μW/cm^2 for one hour significantly reduced the duration of the Aristotle's lantern reflex, but 10 μW/cm^2 did not. There was no significant diff erence of righting response time among sea urchins exposed to 0, 10 and 20 μW/cm^2 for one hour. To test potential carryover ef fects, the behavioral traits were re-measured three days later. We found significant carryover eff ects of UV-B radiation on foraging time and righting response time, but not on the duration of the Aristotle's lantern reflex. The present study indicates that a brief exposure of one hour to UV-B radiation can significantly aff ect the duration of Aristotle's lantern reflex, righting response time and foraging behavior of a sea urchin, although the immediate impacts and carryover eff ects were highly trait dependent. This study provides new information into the behavioral responses of marine invertebrates to exposure to UV-B radiation. Future studies should be carried out to investigate long-term carryover eff ects of UV-B radiation on behavioral and physiological fitness related traits.

Correlation analyses of covering and righting behaviors to fitness related traits of the sea urchin Glyptocidaris crenularis in different environmental conditions

Complex marine benthic environments shape a number of ecologically important behaviors in sea urchins, including covering and righting behaviors. The present study correlated covering and righting behaviors to a series of fi tness-related traits in sea urchins. Righting response time of Glyptocidaris crenularis was signifi cantly positively correlated with body size, but signifi cantly negatively correlated with food consumption. Covering behavior was not signifi cantly correlated with test diameter, test height or body weight, but covering response time was negatively correlated with body weight. A signifi cantly negative correlation was found between righting response time and covering response time. Glyptocidaris crenularis showed a signifi cantly positive correlation in covering response time with and without exposure to poured sand, but no signifi cance in covering ability(number of shells used to cover). The present study provides new insight into internal mechanisms and evolutionary drives of covering and righting behaviors of sea urchins.

Peregrine Soliton and Akhmediev Breathers in a Chameleon Electrical Transmission Line

We analyze the particular behavior exhibited by a chaotic waves field containing Peregrine soliton and Akhmediev breathers. This behavior can be assimilated to a tree with “roots of propagation” which propagate randomly. Besides, this strange phenomenon can be called “tree structures”. So, we present the collapse of dark and bright solitons in order to build up the above mentioned chaotic waves field. The investigation is done in a particular nonlinear transmission line called chameleon nonlinear transmission line. Thus, we show that this line acts as a bandpass filter at low frequencies and the impact of distance, frequency and dimensionless capacitor are also presented. In addition, the chameleon’s behavior is due to the fact that without modifying the appearance structure, it can present alternatively purely right- or left-handed transmission line. This line is different to the composite one.