Document Detail


Abrupt change in food environment induces cloning in plutei of Dendraster excentricus.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20813988     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Asexual reproduction, or cloning, of planktonic echinoderm larvae has been observed in the laboratory and in nature, but little is known about its ecology. Here we examine the effects of algal food density and of a change in food density on the incidence of cloning in larvae of the sand dollar Dendraster excentricus. Results indicate that a change in food concentration can induce cloning in plutei. Cultures transferred from a low to a high algal ration at the time when primary larvae were developing the third (posterodorsal) pair of larval arms showed decreased postoral arm length, unusual morphologies, and increased larval density in culture. These dense cultures of smaller plutei were produced within 48 h of the food pulse. The result is consistent with the occurrence of a burst of cloning, possibly through anterior autotomization. A second feeding experiment demonstrated that anterior autotomization does occur in 4- to 6-arm plutei. Rather than constituting a developmental rarity, cloning may happen early and often in D. excentricus cohorts when environmental conditions favor rapid growth.
Authors:
Kathryn A McDonald; Dawn Vaughn
Related Documents :
1841228 - Recent advances in laboratory mass rearing of phlebotomine sand flies.
1460638 - Laboratory evaluation of acanthocyclops vernalis and diacyclops bicuspidatus thomasi (c...
23575868 - Behavioral correlates of post-breeding weight change in a captive flock of american fla...
12537298 - Parasitism of lizards by immature stages of the blacklegged tick, ixodes scapularis (ac...
10477058 - The effects on feeding of galanin and m40 when injected into the nucleus of the solitar...
6884258 - A simple method to improve the energy value of bank human milk.
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Biological bulletin     Volume:  219     ISSN:  1939-8697     ISO Abbreviation:  Biol. Bull.     Publication Date:  2010 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-09-03     Completed Date:  2010-11-01     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  2984727R     Medline TA:  Biol Bull     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  38-49     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-1800, USA. mcdonaldk2@si.edu
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*
Animals
Female
Food Deprivation / physiology
Larva / growth & development*
Male
Reproduction, Asexual / physiology*
Sea Urchins / growth & development*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Effects of Selfing on Offspring Survival and Reproduction in a Colonial Simultaneous Hermaphrodite (...
Next Document:  Role of Epicellular Molecules in the Selection of Particles by the Blue Mussel, Mytilus edulis.