Abstract
Protochordate reproduction and development are influenced by many kinds of environmental factors. For example, spawning, sexual and asexual reproduction, larval behaviour, and life-cycle transitions (metamorphosis) are key processes known to be affected by environmental factors. This review must be restricted primarily to only one group of protochordates, the ascidians or "sea squirts", because information on the reproductive ecology of hemichordates and cephalochordates is limited to only a few studies. Topics discussed in the present review include (i) environmental factors that regulate larval settlement, (ii) how pelagic embryos avoid damage to DNA caused by UV radiation, (iii) the effect of water temperature and food availability on sexual reproduction in colonial ascidians, (iv) environmental regulation of asexual budding, (v) environmental regulation of metamorphosis, and (vi) the possible role of the environment in the evolution of direct-developing ascidians. A novel role for HSP90 and nitric oxide signaling in the integration of environmental factors with cell signaling pathways in ascidians is discussed near the end of this review. Throughout this review, the multiple roles of environmental stress on ascidian reproduction and development are emphasized.
Publisher
Canadian Science Publishing
Subject
Animal Science and Zoology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Cited by
41 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献