Induced metamorphosis in crustacean y-larvae: towards a solution to a 100-year-old riddle
Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
Standard
Induced metamorphosis in crustacean y-larvae: towards a solution to a 100-year-old riddle. / Glenner, Henrik; Høeg, Jens T; Grygier, Mark J; Fujita, Yoshihisa.
I: BMC Biology, Bind 6, Nr. 21, 2008, s. 1-6.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
Harvard
APA
Vancouver
Author
Bibtex
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - Induced metamorphosis in crustacean y-larvae: towards a solution to a 100-year-old riddle
AU - Glenner, Henrik
AU - Høeg, Jens T
AU - Grygier, Mark J
AU - Fujita, Yoshihisa
N1 - Keywords: Animals; Crustacea; Larva; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Video Recording; Zooplankton
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - BACKGROUND: The y-larva, a crustacean larval type first identified more than 100 years ago, has been found in marine plankton samples collected in the arctic, temperate and tropical regions of all oceans. The great species diversity found among y-larvae (we have identified more than 40 species at our study site alone) indicates that the adult organism may play a significant ecological role. However, despite intense efforts, the adult y-organism has never been identified, and nothing is therefore known about its biology. RESULTS: We have successfully and repeatedly induced metamorphosis of y-larvae into a novel, highly reduced juvenile stage by applying the crustacean molting hormone 20-HE. The new stage is slug-like, unsegmented and lacks both limbs and almost all other traits normally characterizing arthropods, but it is capable of vigorous peristaltic motions. CONCLUSION: From our observations on live and preserved material we conclude that adult Facetotecta are endoparasitic in still to be identified marine hosts and with a juvenile stage that represents a remarkable convergence to that seen in parasitic barnacles (Crustacea Cirripedia Rhizocephala). From the distribution and abundance of facetotectan y-larvae in the world's oceans we furthermore suggest that these parasites are widespread and could play an important role in the marine environment.
AB - BACKGROUND: The y-larva, a crustacean larval type first identified more than 100 years ago, has been found in marine plankton samples collected in the arctic, temperate and tropical regions of all oceans. The great species diversity found among y-larvae (we have identified more than 40 species at our study site alone) indicates that the adult organism may play a significant ecological role. However, despite intense efforts, the adult y-organism has never been identified, and nothing is therefore known about its biology. RESULTS: We have successfully and repeatedly induced metamorphosis of y-larvae into a novel, highly reduced juvenile stage by applying the crustacean molting hormone 20-HE. The new stage is slug-like, unsegmented and lacks both limbs and almost all other traits normally characterizing arthropods, but it is capable of vigorous peristaltic motions. CONCLUSION: From our observations on live and preserved material we conclude that adult Facetotecta are endoparasitic in still to be identified marine hosts and with a juvenile stage that represents a remarkable convergence to that seen in parasitic barnacles (Crustacea Cirripedia Rhizocephala). From the distribution and abundance of facetotectan y-larvae in the world's oceans we furthermore suggest that these parasites are widespread and could play an important role in the marine environment.
U2 - 10.1186/1741-7007-6-21
DO - 10.1186/1741-7007-6-21
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 18492233
VL - 6
SP - 1
EP - 6
JO - B M C Biology
JF - B M C Biology
SN - 1741-7007
IS - 21
ER -
ID: 10453188