Abstract: The sea urchin （Strongylocentrotus intermedius） with body weight of （5.72±0.23） g was starved for 0 （control group, C）, 3 d （S3）, 6 d （S6）, 9 d （S9） and 12 d （S12）, and then re-fed until the 30th d to evaluate the effects of starvation on growth and metabolism in the sea urchin. The wet weight of whole body and gonad, special growth rate of body and gonad, the oxygen consumption rate, ammonia excretion rate and the food conversion efficiency were measured and calculated every five days in control group, on the day at the end of starvation, and 2, 4, 8 and 12 days after re-fed in four starved groups. Results showed that there were no significant differences in body wet weight between S3, S6 and C groups at the end of the experiment, but significandy lower in S9 and S12 than those in the control. There was significantly lower in gonad wet weight in S6, S9 and S12 compared to C and S3 at the end. The sea urchin in S6, S9 and S12 showed a peak in special growth rate in body and gonad after re-fed and lasted 3-5 days. The oxygen consumption rate and ammonia excretion rate were found to decrease for 4-8 days in s6, s9 and S12 at the beginning of re-fed. The food conversion efficiencies were increased in varying degrees after re-fed in the four experimental groups. It is indicated that the food deprivation for 6 d, 9 d and 12 d leads to part compensatory growth in the sea urchin, which are contributed in the significant decrease in metabolic rate and the increase in the food conversion efficiency during the initial stage of refeeding.
2011, Vol. 26 
