Influence of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) on the early development of Paracentrotus lividus LMK at different thermo-saline combinations

Nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) (5 mg/l) is not toxic for embryos of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. It increases the embryonic growth and this effect is maximum at the experimental conditions of 18°C temperature and 35% salinity. Moreover NTA reduces the frequency of plutei with skeletal anomalies, particularly at 11°C temperature and 35% salinity. Finally NTA does not interfere with the temperature-salinity praeferenda of the species, even though a significant interaction between NTA and temperature or salinity is often present.