Life history evolution and comparative developmental biology of echinoderms

Abstract

Evolutionary biologists studying life history variation have used echinoderms in experimental, laboratory, and field studies of life history evolution. This focus on echinoderms grew originally from the tradition of comparative embryology, in which echinoderms were central. The tools for obtaining and manipulating echinoderm gametes and larvae were taken directly from comparative embryological research. In addition, the comparative embryologists employed a diverse array of echinoderms, not a few model species, and this diversity has led to a broad understanding of the development, function, and evolution of echinoderm larvae. As a result, this branch of life history evolution has deep roots in comparative developmental biology of echinoderms. Here two main aspects of this relationship are reviewed. The first is a broad range of studies of fertilization biology, dispersal, population genetics, functional morphology, and asexual reproduction in which developmental biologists might take a keen interest because of the historical origins of this research in echinoderm comparative embryology. The second is a similarly broad variety of topics in life history research in which evolutionary biologists require techniques or data from developmental biology in order to make progress on understanding patterns of life history variation among echinoderm species and higher taxa. Both sets of topics provide opportunities for interaction and collaboration.

Egg Energetics, Fertilization Kinetics, and Population Structure in Echinoids With Facultatively Feeding Larvae

“…One might expect that the short minimum time to metamorphosis in C. rosaceus would lead to genetic divergence across the range of the species, as has been observed in other echinoderms with short larval lives (reviewed in Hart, 2002). This, however, is not the case, as we found no evidence of divergence between Panama and Florida.…”

Effect of near-future seawater temperature rises on sea urchin sperm longevity

“…The fertilisation biology of echinoderms is well characterised because of their use in comparative embryological research over the past century (Hart 2002). Early life stages of sea urchins in particular are also known to be highly sensitive to a range of environmental contaminants and stressors (e.g.…”

Influence of temperature variation on embryonic and early larval development of a commercially important tropical sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla (Linnaeus, 1758)

“…T. gratilla is also important ecologically, especially in sea grass habitats and is a food source with good potential for aquaculture (Juinio-Menez et al, 1998;Dworjanyn et al, 2007;Lawrence et al, 2007;Unsworth, 2010). Early life stages (Hart, 2002) of sea urchins, in particular, are known to be highly sensitive to a wide range of environmental contaminants and stressors (Dinnel et al, 1989) which is making them ideal organisms for assessing impacts of climate change. Its life cycle has a planktonic period of days or weeks in the water column and seawater chemistry and temperature have major impacts on the development.…”