Echinoderms exposed to shifting environmental conditions possess biological mechanisms that allow them to persist. These include intraspecific processes acting at different evolutionary and temporal scales: local genomic adaptations shaped by selective pressures over generations, and phenotypic plasticity expressed as individuals adjust to genotype–environment interactions during their lifetimes. The relationship between echinoderms and their symbiotic microbiota may further influence their adaptive capacity. Our group has adopted a multidisciplinary approach to examine the adaptive potential of key echinoderm species under ocean warming and acidification, combining observations along natural temperature and pH gradients with controlled laboratory experiments. We find diverse stress responses and adaptive strategies—ranging from local genomic differentiation and shifts in gene expression to metabolic adjustments—that vary between species. However, these intra- and interspecific mechanisms do not always align. Differences in evolutionary history and thermal tolerance may underpin the contrasting resilience of echinoderms, offering crucial insights into their survival prospects under future oceanographic change.
The National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC), YouTube, 02 October 2025. More information.
