en.Wedoany.com Reported - The red sea urchin (Loxechinus albus), a benthic species of both ecological and economic value in the subtidal ecosystems of southern Chile, is now the focus of climate change research. Paola Villanueva Riquelme, a Bachelor of Science from the Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh), recently defended her doctoral thesis titled "Climate Change Drivers and Their Effects on the Red Sea Urchin (Loxechinus albus) at the Extremes of Its Patagonian Distribution," which was unanimously approved.
The study analyzed the effects of ocean warming, reduced salinity, and increased frequency of extreme thermal events such as marine heatwaves and cold spells on juvenile red sea urchins from physiological, molecular, and genomic perspectives. Results revealed significant differences between populations at the northern and southern extremes of the Patagonian distribution: southern individuals exhibited greater metabolic resilience and more sustained responses under long-term environmental stress, while northern individuals were more susceptible, accumulating higher physiological costs. These findings contribute to understanding the vulnerability of this exploited species in the context of global change.
From a genomic standpoint, the study confirmed high regional connectivity and low genetic differentiation among populations, indicating that differences primarily stem from physiological plasticity and local adaptation rather than genetic isolation. This conclusion provides a basis for developing spatially differentiated conservation measures, management strategies, and identifying key areas for early developmental stage protection.
Dr. Marcela Astorga, the thesis advisor, noted that the key to this research lies in integrating different topics and methods to answer a fundamental question about future resource management, a question directly tied to the interests of Chilean fishers and fishing communities.
The thesis evaluation committee comprised national and international scholars, including Professor Juan Gaitán-Espitia from the University of Hong Kong, as well as Dr. Leyla Cárdenas Tavie (Institute of Environmental and Evolutionary Sciences) and Dr. Carlos Molinet Flores (Institute of Aquaculture and Environment) from UACh.
This thesis defense not only consolidates Paola Villanueva Riquelme's research contributions in aquatic sciences but also highlights the knowledge production capacity of southern Chile in addressing global environmental challenges.
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
