Effects of Experimental Change in Egg Size on Development of Planktotrophic Larvae of Marin

海洋无脊椎动物的远洋食性幼虫总是由含有很少蛋黄的小卵发育而来。为了完成发育，幼虫必须以周围海水中悬浮的食物颗粒为食，以补充卵中提供的储备。在这个项目中，将通过改变早期胚胎中细胞的数量来实验控制可用于发育到初始摄食幼虫阶段的物质的数量。在开始摄食时对初始幼虫形态（大小、形状、摄食结构）的影响将被量化。随后的幼虫生长发育将在限制和非限制的食物条件下进行评估。本研究项目旨在阐明亲代投资水平变化的重要功能和发育后果。研究结果适用于海洋无脊椎动物生活史、生态学和进化的预测模型以及远洋悬浮食性动物的觅食预测模型。

Pelagic, feeding larvae of marine invertebrates invariably develop from small eggs that contain little yolk. In order to complete development, larvae must feed on suspended food particles in the surrounding seawater to supplement the reserves provided in the egg. In this project, the amount of material available for development to the initial feeding larval stage will be experimentally manipulated by altering the number of cells in the early embryo. The effect on initial larval morphology (size, shape, feeding structures) at the onset of feeding will be quantified. Subsequent larval growth and development will be evaluated under limiting and nonlimiting food conditions. This research project seeks to elucidate the important functional and developmental consequences of a change in the level of parental investment. The results apply to predictive models of life history ecology and evolution in marine invertebrates and foraging by pelagic suspension feeders.