scholarly journals Arrangement and size variation of intra-gonadal offspring in a viviparous asterinid sea star

Zoosymposia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S.R. KHAN ◽  
C. M. WHITTINGTON ◽  
M. B. THOMPSON ◽  
M. BYRNE
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Marine Invertebrates ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
Sibling Competition ◽  
Offspring Size ◽  
Sea Star ◽  
Micro Computed Tomography ◽  
Defensive Strategy ◽  
Early Embryos ◽  
Developmental Asynchrony

Sibling competition and developmental asynchrony may greatly influence the arrangement and size of offspring of marine invertebrates that care for their young. In Parvulastra parvivipara, an asterinid sea star that incubates its young in the gonads, sibling cannibalism supports post-metamorphic development. Offspring size varies within (coefficient of variation, CV = 22.6 %) and among (CV = 17.7%) the gonads. Confocal microscopy was used to visualize early embryos and oocytes, and revealed the presence of several developmental stages within individual gonads. The eggs were a mean diameter of 84 μm. The observation of a gastrula at 86 µm smaller than the largest egg observed (134 µm) suggests that terminal egg size varies. The appearance of early embryos surrounded by somatic cells suggests that they may receive nutrients through histotrophy. Sibling competition intensifies once the digestive tract is functional in the tiny juveniles which then start to consume siblings. The arrangement of the offspring in the gonads was observed using micro-computed tomography. The juveniles were oriented with their oral surface facing each other, presumably as a defensive strategy to protect themselves from being eaten. Periodic release of offspring in single or several cohorts indicates continual reproduction. Released and retained juveniles varied in size. It is not known what initiates birth but it may be mediated by sibling competition. Larger adults had a greater allocation to female reproductive output than smaller adults.

Elevated nest predation risk promotes offspring size variation in birds with prolonged parental care.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gretchen F. Wagner ◽  
Emeline Mourocq ◽  
Michael Griesser
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Reproductive Cycle ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Nest Predation ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Offspring Size ◽  
Natural Predation ◽  
Risk Spreading

Predation of offspring is the main cause of reproductive failure in many species, and the mere fear of offspring predation shapes reproductive strategies. Yet, natural predation risk is ubiquitously variable and can be unpredictable. Consequently, the perceived prospect of predation early in a reproductive cycle may not reflect the actual risk to ensuing offspring. An increased variance in investment across offspring has been linked to breeding in unpredictable environments in several taxa, but has so far been overlooked as a maternal response to temporal variation in predation risk. Here, we experimentally increased the perceived risk of nest predation prior to egg-laying in seven bird species. Species with prolonged parent-offspring associations increased their intra-brood variation in egg, and subsequently offspring, size. High risk to offspring early in a reproductive cycle can favour a risk-spreading strategy particularly in species with the greatest opportunity to even out offspring quality after fledging.

Ontogeny of divided vascular cylinders in Serjania: the rise of a novel vascular architecture in Sapindaceae

IAWA Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Yanã C. Rizzieri ◽  
Arno F.N. Brandes ◽  
Israel L. Cunha Neto ◽  
Genise V. Somner ◽  
Michaela J.N. Lima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Tissue ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Vascular Cylinder ◽  
Peripheral Vascular ◽  
Micro Computed Tomography ◽  
Cambial Variant ◽  
Complex Forms ◽  
Cambial Cells ◽  
Developmental Analysis ◽  
Cambial Variants

Abstract Sapindaceae lianas are remarkable for the diversity of cambial variants found in their stems. One of the family’s exclusive cambial variant is the divided vascular cylinder, which occurs in eight species of the genus Serjania. This cambial variant is marked by 5 peripheral vascular cylinders around a large pith. We performed a comparative developmental analysis, integrating traditional plant anatomy techniques with high-resolution X-ray micro-computed tomography to investigate the structure and development of the stems of three species with divided vascular cylinder. Our observations showed that the initial stages of stem development were similar to those described in the literature, however, on later developmental stages a central vascular cylinder appears in all species. The ontogeny of these stems are marked by three main processes: (i) dissection of vascular tissue from the peripheral vascular cylinders; (ii) development of new cambial arcs through the redifferentiation of pith cells; and (iii) recruitment of cambial cells from the inner portions of the vascular cambium of the peripheral vascular cylinders, forming a novel central vascular cylinder where the pith was, surrounded by five initial peripheral cylinders. As an ulterior developmental stage, some older stems also develop neoformations and connections between the different vascular cylinders. While our findings support previous descriptions of divided vascular cylinders, this is the first study illustrating the formation of the central vascular cylinder in this cambial variant. Our observations further corroborate that Serjania is the lineage with the highest and some of the most complex forms of cambial variants among all vascular plants.

scholarly journals Virome Variation during Sea Star Wasting Disease Progression in Pisaster ochraceus (Asteroidea, Echinodermata)

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1332
Author(s):  
Ian Hewson ◽  
Citlalli A. Aquino ◽  
Christopher M. DeRito
Keyword(s):  
Viral Genome ◽  
Marine Invertebrates ◽  
Scar Tissue ◽  
Sea Star ◽  
Wasting Disease ◽  
Viral Genomes ◽  
Normal Tissues ◽  
Pisaster Ochraceus ◽  
Affected Tissue ◽  
External Stimuli

Sea star wasting disease (SSWD) is a condition that has affected asteroids for over 120 years, yet mechanistic understanding of this wasting etiology remains elusive. We investigated temporal virome variation in two Pisaster ochraceus specimens that wasted in the absence of external stimuli and two specimens that did not experience SSWD for the duration of our study, and compared viromes of wasting lesion margin tissues to both artificial scar margins and grossly normal tissues over time. Global assembly of all SSWD-affected tissue libraries resulted in 24 viral genome fragments represented in >1 library. Genome fragments mostly matched densoviruses and picornaviruses with fewer matching nodaviruses, and a sobemovirus. Picornavirus-like and densovirus-like genome fragments were most similar to viral genomes recovered in metagenomic study of other marine invertebrates. Read recruitment revealed only two picornavirus-like genome fragments that recruited from only SSWD-affected specimens, but neither was unique to wasting lesions. Wasting lesion margin reads recruited to a greater number of viral genotypes (i.e., richness) than did either scar tissue and grossly normal tissue reads. Taken together, these data suggest that no single viral genome fragment was associated with SSWD. Rather, wasting lesion margins may generally support viral proliferation.

Ontogenetic development of the otic region in the new model organism, Leucoraja erinacea (Chondrichthyes; Rajidae)

2018 ◽  
Vol 109 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 105-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cathrin PFAFF ◽  
Jürgen KRIWET ◽  
Kyle MARTIN ◽  
Zerina JOHANSON
Keyword(s):  
Soft Tissues ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Biological Research ◽  
Developmental Studies ◽  
Micro Computed Tomography ◽  
Computed Tomography Scanning ◽  
Cartilaginous Fishes ◽  
Tomography Scanning

ABSTRACTCartilaginous fishes have a long evolutionary history dating back 440 million years and include model organisms in a number of fields of biological research. However, comparative developmental studies of these organisms, particularly neuroanatomical investigations, still remain sparse. Here, pre-hatching to adult developmental stages of the Little Skate, Leucoraja erinacea, are investigated using micro-computed tomography scanning in conjunction with staining procedures designed to improve visualisation of soft tissues. Within the ear, the anatomy of the skeletal labyrinth changes during ontogeny and differs substantially from the underlying membranous system, contrary to previous observations in sharks. Additionally, substantial morphological remodelling characterises the parietal fossa, which appears initially as a massive and hook-like structure and subsequently becomes slender and surrounded by soft tissue. The sizes of the vestibular system and neurocranium increase isometrically from pre- to post-hatching phases, and then exponentially after the post-hatching stages.

scholarly journals Serotonin in pre-implantation mouse embryos is localized to the mitochondria and can modulate mitochondrial potential

Reproduction ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 135 (5) ◽  
pp. 657-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Basudha Basu ◽  
Radha Desai ◽  
J Balaji ◽  
Raghothama Chaerkady ◽  
V Sriram ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fluorescence Microscopy ◽  
Serotonin Transporter ◽  
Tryptophan Hydroxylase ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Mouse Embryos ◽  
Mitochondrial Potential ◽  
Early Embryos

Serotonin is reported to be present in early embryos of many species and plays an important role in early patterning. Since it is a fluorophore, it can be directly visualized using fluorescence microscopy. Here, we use three-photon microscopy to image serotonin in live pre-implantation mouse embryos. We find that it is present as puncta averaging 1.3 square microns and in concentrations as high as 442 mM. The observed serotonin puncta were found to co-localize with mitochondria. Live embryos pre-incubated with serotonin showed a higher mitochondrial potential, indicating that it can modulate mitochondrial potential. Pre-implantation mouse embryos were also examined at various developmental stages for the presence of transcripts of the peripheral and neuronal forms of tryptophan hydroxylase (Tph1andTph2respectively) and the classical serotonin transporter (Slc6a4). Transcripts ofTph2were seen in oocytes and in two-cell stages, whereas transcripts ofTph1were not detected at any stage. Transcripts of the transporter,Slc6a4, were present in all pre-implantation stages investigated. These results suggest that serotonin in embryos can arise from a combination of synthesis and uptake from the surrounding milieu.

Within-clutch egg-size variation in a subsocial bug: the positional effect hypothesis

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (11) ◽  
pp. 1540-1544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shin-ichi Kudo
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Egg Size ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
Instar Nymph ◽  
Offspring Size ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Female Body Size ◽  
Positional Effect ◽  
Effect Hypothesis

If there are differences in predation risk among the offspring within a clutch, parents should allocate less resources to the offspring facing higher risk. Predation risk, and thus offspring size, may depend on the spatial position of individual offspring within a clutch. To test this positional effect hypothesis, I examined egg-size (egg-mass) variation in the subsocial bug Elasmucha signoreti Scott, 1874 (Hemiptera: Acanthosomatidae). In subsocial insects, including Elasmucha , in which females guard their clutches against predators by covering the clutch with their bodies, there are large differences in survival between offspring at the centre and at the periphery of the clutch. There was considerable variation in reproductive output among females; female body size was positively correlated with egg mass but not with clutch size. Females laid significantly lighter eggs in the peripheral, and thus more vulnerable, part of the clutch. No phenotypic trade-off between egg mass and clutch size was detected. Egg mass was positively correlated with hatched first-instar nymph mass. Thus, E. signoreti females seem to allocate their resources according to the different predation risks faced by the offspring within a clutch. I suggest that the positional effect hypothesis can generally be applicable to species whose females lay eggs in clutches and that the eggs suffer different mortality rates which depend on their spatial positions within the clutch.

scholarly journals Quantitative assessment of actin transcript number in eggs, embryos, and tube feet of the sea star Pisaster ochraceus.

1985 ◽  
Vol 5 (11) ◽  
pp. 3001-3008 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Kovesdi ◽  
M J Smith
Keyword(s):  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Untranslated Region ◽  
Quantitative Assessment ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Sea Star ◽  
Dot Blot ◽  
Pisaster Ochraceus ◽  
Hybridization Kinetic ◽  
Muscle Gene ◽  
Tube Feet

Actin coding sequence cDNA probes were used to quantitate the number of transcripts in RNA from eggs, embryos, and tube feet of the sea star Pisaster ochraceus. Transcript concentrations were measured in both total RNA and in poly(A)+ RNA by titration and hybridization kinetic methods. Surprisingly, the actin transcript number in sea star eggs is two orders of magnitude greater than in sea urchin eggs. There are at least 2.9 X 10(5) actin transcripts per sea star egg, 1.2 X 10(5) per 48-h gastrula and 1.9 X 10(5) per 72-h gastrula. The number of actin transcripts per unit mass of extracted tube foot RNA is lower than in developmental stages. The relative abundance and size of actin transcripts was determined by Northern and dot blot analyses using probes containing actin coding DNA or 3'-untranslated-region sequences. The actin transcript in eggs and embryos is 2,300 nucleotides (nt) long and originates from the Cy (cytoplasmic) gene class. In tube feet, the most abundant actin transcript is 2,200 nt long and originates from the M (muscle) gene class. Tube feet also contain, at lower abundance, 2,300-nt transcripts of the Cy gene type expressed in eggs and embryos.

scholarly journals Microarray analysis of gene expression during early development: a cautionary overview

Reproduction ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 140 (6) ◽  
pp. 787-801 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claude Robert
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Early Development ◽  
Microarray Analysis ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Sample Handling ◽  
Early Embryos ◽  
High Throughput Method ◽  
Full Benefit ◽  
Key Steps ◽  
Early Developmental

The rise of the ‘omics’ technologies started nearly a decade ago and, among them, transcriptomics has been used successfully to contrast gene expression in mammalian oocytes and early embryos. The scarcity of biological material that early developmental stages provide is the prime reason why the field of transcriptomics is becoming more and more popular with reproductive biologists. The potential to amplify scarce mRNA samples and generate the necessary amounts of starting material enables the relative measurement of RNA abundance of thousands of candidates simultaneously. So far, microarrays have been the most commonly used high-throughput method in this field. Microarray platforms can be found in a wide variety of formats, from cDNA collections to long or short oligo probe sets. These platforms generate large amounts of data that require the integration of comparative RNA abundance values in the physiological context of early development for their full benefit to be appreciated. Unfortunately, significant discrepancies between datasets suggest that direct comparison between studies is difficult and often not possible. We have investigated the sample-handling steps leading to the generation of microarray data produced from prehatching embryo samples and have identified key steps that significantly impact the downstream results. This review provides a discussion on the best methods for the preparation of samples from early embryos for microarray analysis and focuses on the challenges that impede dataset comparisons from different platforms and the reasons why methodological benchmarking performed using somatic cells may not apply to the atypical nature of prehatching development.

scholarly journals Genetic population structure of the blue sea star Linckia laevigata in the Visayas (Philippines)

2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Sr Alcazar ◽  
Marc Kochzius
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Population Structure ◽  
Gene Flow ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Marine Invertebrates ◽  
Genetic Population Structure ◽  
Sea Star ◽  
Genetic Population ◽  
Gene Coi ◽  
Linckia Laevigata

Coral reef associated marine invertebrates, such as the blue sea starLinckia laevigata, have a life history with two phases: sedentary adults and planktonic larvae. On the one hand it is hypothesised that the long pelagic larval duration facilitates large distance dispersal. On the other hand, complex oceanographic and geographic characteristics of the Visayan seascape could cause isolation of populations. The study aims to investigate the genetic diversity, genetic population structure and gene flow inL. laevigatato reveal connectivity among populations in the Visayas. The analysis is based on partial sequences (626 bp in length) of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI) from 124 individuals collected from five localities in the Visayas. A comparative analysis of these populations with populations from the Indo-Malay Archipelago (IMA) published previously is also presented. Genetic diversity was high (h = 0.98, π = 1.6%) and comparable with preceding studies. Analyses of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed a lack of spatial population differentiation among sample sites in the Visayas (ΦST-value = 0.009;P > 0.05). The lack of genetic population structure indicates high gene flow among populations ofL. laevigatain the Visayas. Comparative analysis with data from the previous study indicates high connectivity of the Visayas with the central part of the IMA.

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