Effects of acute bisphenol A exposure on feeding and reproduction in sea urchin (Heliocidaris crassispina).

Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine-disrupting chemical that is used globally in the production of many plastics, is a pervasive environmental contaminant that poses a growing threat to various forms of life. However, data on its impact on invertebrates, particularly echinoderms, remain scarce, and there is no existing research on BPA's toxicity in adult sea urchins. This study investigates the impact of acute BPA exposure (100, 600, and 1500 μg/L for one week) in adult sea urchin Heliocidaris crassispina, focusing on feeding behaviors (including predation and anti-predation behaviors, digestive enzyme activity), reproductive physiology (including gonadal characteristics, sex hormone levels, and expression of reproduction-related genes), and transgenerational effects.