research and biocompound discovery, used to study intracellular
signaling, fertilization mechanisms, cell division, drug development, and endotoxin detection [e.g., 3, 4]. Overall, marine invertebrates play a crucial ecological role in ocean health, their welfare
influencing the structure of the food chain, directly or indirectly
having an effect on local coastal economies and on fisheries management at a global scale. The large-scale degradation of the natural
environment in combination with poor management can lead to a
combined impact on certain species and lead to drastic population
changes, in many cases favoring the proliferation of non-native
species [5, 6]. This is the case, for example, for the decline of
populations (and consequently fisheries) of the Portuguese native
oyster, Crassostrea angulata, following a common sequence of
events in many places worldwide [7, 8]. Typically, the extensive
harvest of wild oyster populations results in the loss of reef structure, which exacerbates the impact of additional stresses from
anoxia, sedimentation, and disease [9–13]. Populations of sea urchins, where fisheries have been active for decades, are also declining
fast, leading to decreasing captures and in some regions temporary
closures of fisheries. The annual worldwide capture of sea urchins
nevertheless keeps increasing yearly [14, 15]. Sea urchins are grazers and therefore have an active role in their local communities.
Overfishing as well as overproliferation due to the disappearance of
natural predators creates notable imbalances in the communities,
like the case of the disappearance of kelp forests due to over proliferation of sea urchins along the US Pacific coast.
The aim of this book chapter is to provide standardized protocols for the cryopreservation of several cell types and organisms
from four different marine invertebrates.
1.2 Cryopreservation: Why Is It
Useful?
By extending ex situ access to marine biological resources, cryopreservation will enhance the use of marine species as model species
for research, enhance the use of sperm and embryo-larval bioassays,
and promote applications in the fields of aquaculture, fisheries
management, and conservation of endangered species. The development of cryopreservation protocols will allow the storage of
marine invertebrates in biobanks and consequently provide yearround access to high-quality material regardless of the reproductive
season or meteorological and environmental conditions. Ongoing
rapid decline in biodiversity [16] makes the role of cryopreservation
even more crucial in the contexts of progress of scientific knowledge, conservation of marine biodiversity, and efficient fisheries
management and aquaculture practices.
Knowledge about cryopreservation of marine invertebrates has
increased in the last decades [17], with several protocols having
been published for gametes and larvae of different species [e.g., 17–
22]. In fact, most of these studies focus on cryopreservation of
sperm in species with high commercial value [17, 23]. The storage
414
Estefania Paredes et al.
signaling, fertilization mechanisms, cell division, drug development, and endotoxin detection [e.g., 3, 4]. Overall, marine invertebrates play a crucial ecological role in ocean health, their welfare
influencing the structure of the food chain, directly or indirectly
having an effect on local coastal economies and on fisheries management at a global scale. The large-scale degradation of the natural
environment in combination with poor management can lead to a
combined impact on certain species and lead to drastic population
changes, in many cases favoring the proliferation of non-native
species [5, 6]. This is the case, for example, for the decline of
populations (and consequently fisheries) of the Portuguese native
oyster, Crassostrea angulata, following a common sequence of
events in many places worldwide [7, 8]. Typically, the extensive
harvest of wild oyster populations results in the loss of reef structure, which exacerbates the impact of additional stresses from
anoxia, sedimentation, and disease [9–13]. Populations of sea urchins, where fisheries have been active for decades, are also declining
fast, leading to decreasing captures and in some regions temporary
closures of fisheries. The annual worldwide capture of sea urchins
nevertheless keeps increasing yearly [14, 15]. Sea urchins are grazers and therefore have an active role in their local communities.
Overfishing as well as overproliferation due to the disappearance of
natural predators creates notable imbalances in the communities,
like the case of the disappearance of kelp forests due to over proliferation of sea urchins along the US Pacific coast.
The aim of this book chapter is to provide standardized protocols for the cryopreservation of several cell types and organisms
from four different marine invertebrates.
1.2 Cryopreservation: Why Is It
Useful?
By extending ex situ access to marine biological resources, cryopreservation will enhance the use of marine species as model species
for research, enhance the use of sperm and embryo-larval bioassays,
and promote applications in the fields of aquaculture, fisheries
management, and conservation of endangered species. The development of cryopreservation protocols will allow the storage of
marine invertebrates in biobanks and consequently provide yearround access to high-quality material regardless of the reproductive
season or meteorological and environmental conditions. Ongoing
rapid decline in biodiversity [16] makes the role of cryopreservation
even more crucial in the contexts of progress of scientific knowledge, conservation of marine biodiversity, and efficient fisheries
management and aquaculture practices.
Knowledge about cryopreservation of marine invertebrates has
increased in the last decades [17], with several protocols having
been published for gametes and larvae of different species [e.g., 17–
22]. In fact, most of these studies focus on cryopreservation of
sperm in species with high commercial value [17, 23]. The storage
414
Estefania Paredes et al.