Biased Evolutionary Transitions in Mode of Development: Can Differences in Morphology and Digestive Function be Linked to Evolvability of Gastropod Development?

项目名称：发展模式的偏向性进化转变：形态和消化功能的差异与腹足类动物发展的可进化性有关吗？主要研究者：柯林，雷切尔NSF项目编号：IOS 1019727 100多年来，人们一直认为，失去复杂的形态结构或功能，就像鲸鱼失去腿和鸵鸟失去飞行能力一样，是不可逆转的。 然而，最近的研究结果表明，一些动物可以恢复失去的结构或功能。其中一个例子是在一个家庭的海蜗牛。 在大约50%的这些蜗牛的自由生活的幼虫阶段已经失去了，但令人惊讶的是，它已经恢复了3个物种。这项研究将使用生物力学，形态学和发育方法来了解幼虫结构及其功能是如何丢失的，以及它们丢失的不同方式是否可以阻止或允许重新获得幼虫阶段。 研究结果将包括详细了解这些蜗牛的幼虫如何从浮游生物中捕获颗粒，它们消化不同食物来源的能力如何随着蜗牛胚胎的生长而发展，以及简单的实验室操作是否可以改变它们的发育方式。了解影响海洋动物发展的因素很重要，因为幼虫阶段增加了种群在当地干扰中生存的能力，并在栖息地遭到破坏后重新安置。 它还减少了相对于缺乏幼虫阶段的物种灭绝的机会。 最后，自由生活的幼虫阶段的存在也增加了物种成为入侵性害虫的可能性。该项目将培训3名本科生实习生、2名研究生和1名博士后研究员，支持一个高级本科生课程，并制作一系列教育短片，在YouTube上向公众提供。

Project Title: Biased Evolutionary Transitions in Mode of Development: Can Differences in Morphology and Digestive Function be Linked to Evolvability of gastropod Development?Principal Investigator: Collin, RachelNSF Project Number: IOS 1019727 For over 100 years it has been thought that the loss of complex morphological structures or functions, like the loss of legs in whales and the loss of flight in ostriches, is irreversible. However, recent results suggest that some kinds of animals can regain lost structures or functions. One example of this is in a family of sea snails. In about 50% of these snails the free-living larval stage has been lost, but surprisingly it has been regained in 3 species. This research will use biomechanical, morphological and developmental approaches to understand how the larval structures and their function are lost, and if the different ways they are lost can either prevent or allow the reacquisition of the larval stage. Results will include detailed understanding of how the larvae of these snails capture particles from the plankton, how their ability to digest different food sources develops as the embryonic snails grow, and if simple laboratory manipulations can alter how they develop. Understanding the factors that affect the development of marine animals is important because the larval stage increases the ability of populations to survive local disturbances and relocate after habitat destruction. It also reduces the chances of extinction relative to species that lack the larval stage. Finally the presence of a free-living larval stage also increases the potential for species to become invasive pests. This project will train 3 undergraduate interns, 2 graduate students and one post-doctoral fellow, support an advanced undergraduate-level course, and produce a series of short educational videos provided to the public on YouTube.