Global warming leading to gradual temperature rise serves as one of the serious stressors affecting the marine community structure. Specifically, keystone predator species like sea stars are vulnerable to temperature stress in various aspects -ecology, behavior, physiology, and immunology. Additionally, these economically important species are subjected to anthropological-induced stress such as invasive fishing activities and heavy metal discharge which can potentially cause arm amputation. Since stress physiology is related to the immune function of the body, a comprehensive study of stress physiology may help understand overall health and survival. As their presence influences community structure, the general well-being and survival of a keystone predator have important ecological implications in the marine environment. Around this scope, first, we are interested in studying the effect of temperature on physiological changes. Shedding off their arm as a defensive mechanism is a very common phenomenon for starfish; however, such phenomena may result in significant energy loss leading to a change in physiological response. Therefore, studying the physiological and behavioral changes resulting from temperature stress (global warming) and arm amputation (natural predation) is important. In addition to the study of individual stress effect, it may be worthwhile to study their synergistic effect. Therefore, we are curious to investigate the effects of temperature and arm amputation in a laboratory setting that mimics the oceanic environment. We are currently observing these effects by leveraging the parameters such as 1. live coelomocyte count, 2. total protein, 3. phagocytic activity 4. righting activity, and 5. antioxidant activity. We will discuss our observations at the conference.
Keywords: Physiological response, Arm amputation, Temperature, Luidia clathaarata, Marine environment