Current Search: Phenotypic plasticity (x)
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- Title
- Phenotypic plasticity in the larvae of Luidia foliata(Echinodermata: Asteroidea).
- Creator
- George, Sophie B., Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
- Date Issued
- 1994
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00007383
- Subject Headings
- Echinodermata, Asteroidea, Starfishes, Larvae, Phenotypic plasticity
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Do Fiddler Crab Larvae Show Phenotypic Plasticity?.
- Creator
- Christopher, Catherine E., Salmon, Michael, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
-
Larval release by adult fiddler crabs occurs during the ebbing tides, but its timing relative to the day-night and tidal amplitude cycles depends upon tidal form (e.g., shows phenotypical plasticity). Crabs (Uca thayeri) from Florida's East Coast are exposed to semidiurnal tides and release their larvae at night, whereas crabs from Florida's West Coast exposed to mixed tides release their larvae during the afternoon. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the larvae could hatch at...
Show moreLarval release by adult fiddler crabs occurs during the ebbing tides, but its timing relative to the day-night and tidal amplitude cycles depends upon tidal form (e.g., shows phenotypical plasticity). Crabs (Uca thayeri) from Florida's East Coast are exposed to semidiurnal tides and release their larvae at night, whereas crabs from Florida's West Coast exposed to mixed tides release their larvae during the afternoon. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the larvae could hatch at times other than those correlated with the tidal form at their location. Clusters of eggs at similar stages of development, 24-72 h in advance of release, were reciprocally transferred between females from each coast. Release ofboth the transferred larvae and maternal clutch occurred synchronously, and at the time dictated by the female's tidal regime. These results suggest that larvae are phenotypically plastic with respect to hatching time and can either delay (West coast) or advance (East coast) their response to release signals from females.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2007
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000733
- Subject Headings
- Cell differentiation, Adaptation (Biology), Evolution (Biology), Phenotypic plasticity
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Genetic Connectivity and Phenotypic Plasticity of Shallow and Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico.
- Creator
- Studivan, Michael, Voss, Joshua, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
Coral reef ecosystems worldwide are facing increasing degradation due to disease, anthropogenic damage, and climate change, particularly in the Tropical Western Atlantic. Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) have been recently gaining attention through increased characterization as continuations of shallow reefs below traditional SCUBA depths (>30 m). As MCEs appear to be sheltered from many stressors affecting shallow reefs, MCEs may act as a coral refuge and provide larvae to nearby shallow...
Show moreCoral reef ecosystems worldwide are facing increasing degradation due to disease, anthropogenic damage, and climate change, particularly in the Tropical Western Atlantic. Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) have been recently gaining attention through increased characterization as continuations of shallow reefs below traditional SCUBA depths (>30 m). As MCEs appear to be sheltered from many stressors affecting shallow reefs, MCEs may act as a coral refuge and provide larvae to nearby shallow reefs. The Deep Reef Refugia Hypothesis (DRRH) posits that shallow and mesophotic reefs may be genetically connected and that some coral species are equally compatible in both habitats. The research presented here addresses key questions that underlie this theory and advances our knowledge of coral connectivity and MCE ecology using the depth-generalist coral Montastraea cavernosa. Chapter 1 presents an overview of the DRRH, a description of MCEs in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), and the framework of research questions within existing reef management infrastructure in the GOM. Through microsatellite genotyping, Chapter 2 identifies high connectivity among shallow and mesophotic reefs in the northwest GOM and evidence for relative isolation between depth zones in Belize and the southeast GOM. Historical migration and vertical connectivity models estimate Gulf-wide population panmixia. Chapter 3 focuses on population structure within the northwest GOM, identifying a lack of significant population structure. Dominant migration patterns estimate population panmixia, suggesting mesophotic populations currently considered for National Marine Sanctuary protection benefit the Flower Garden Banks. Chapter 4 quantifies the level of morphological variation between shallow and mesophotic M. cavernosa, revealing two distinct morphotypes possibly representing adaptive tradeoffs. Chapter 5 examines the transcriptomic mechanisms behind coral plasticity between depth zones, discovering a consistent response to mesophotic conditions across regions. Additionally, variable plasticity of mesophotic corals resulting from transplantation to shallow depths and potential differences in bleaching resilience between shallow and mesophotic corals are identified. The dissertation concludes with a synthesis of the results as they pertain to connectivity of shallow and mesophotic corals in the Gulf of Mexico and suggests future research that will aid in further understanding of MCE ecology and connectivity.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005961
- Subject Headings
- Coral reef ecology--Mexico, Gulf of, Phenotypic plasticity, Montastraea, Ecological genetics
- Format
- Document (PDF)