A5036248166- Marine Biology and Environmental Chemistry
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Echinoderm biology and ecology
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Heat shock proteins research
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Ocean Acidification Effects and Responses
- Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Evolution and Science Education
- Connexins and lens biology
- Calcium Carbonate Crystallization and Inhibition
- Plant and Biological Electrophysiology Studies
- Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- Crustacean biology and ecology
St. Francis Xavier University
2014-2024
Dalhousie University
1996-2009
University of Hawaii System
2006-2007
Simon Fraser University
2001-2003
Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre
2001
The association between embryos of the spotted salamander ( Ambystoma maculatum ) and green algae (“ Oophila amblystomatis ” Lamber ex Printz) has been considered an ectosymbiotic mutualism. We show here, however, that this symbiosis is more intimate than previously reported. A combination imaging algal 18S rDNA amplification reveals invasion embryonic tissues cells during development. Algal are detectable from larval Stages 26–44 through chlorophyll autofluorescence amplification. cell...
Metamorphosis (Gr. meta- "change" + morphe "form") as a biological process is generally attributed to subset of animals: most famously insects and amphibians, but some fish many marine invertebrates well. We held symposium at the 2006 Society for Integrative Comparative Biology (SICB) annual meeting in Orlando, FL (USA) discuss metamorphosis comparative context. Specifically, we considered possibility that term "metamorphosis" could be rightly applied non-animals well, including fungi,...
Metamorphosis in marine invertebrate larvae is a dynamic, environmentally dependent process that integrates ontogeny with habitat selection. The capacity of many to survive and maintain metamorphic competence the absence environmental cues has been hypothesized be an adaptive convergence (Hadfield others 2001). A survey literature reveals single generalized hypothesis about as not sufficient account for interspecific variation this character. In attempt capture variation, we discuss...
Nitric oxide (NO) signaling repressively regulates metamorphosis in two solitary ascidians and a gastropod. We present evidence for similar role the sea urchin Lytechinus pictus. NO commonly signals via soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC). synthase (NOS) activity some mammalian cells, including neurons, depends on molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90 (HSP90); this may be so echinoid larvae as well. Pluteus containing juvenile rudiments were treated with either radicicol l- or...
Egg masses of the yellow-spotted salamander Ambystoma maculatum form an association with green alga "Oophila amblystomatis" (Lambert ex Wille), which, in addition to growing within individual egg capsules, has recently been reported invade embryonic tissues and cells. The binomial O. amblystomatis refers algae that occur A. but it is unknown whether this population symbionts constitutes one or several different algal taxa. Moreover, across geographic range maculatum, other amphibians,...
Abstract Treatment of larvae the ascidians Boltenia villosa (Family: Pyuridae) and Cnemidocarpa finmarkiensis Styelidae) with drugs that inhibit function molecular chaperone HSP90 increased frequency tail resorption, primary morphogenetic event metamorphosis. If treatment was initiated at hatching, metamorphic events subsequent to resorption failed occur, indicating an ongoing role for during morphogenesis. Removal tails from heads mature, but not newly hatched...
SUMMARY The gas nitric oxide (NO), and in some cases its downstream second messenger, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) function different taxa to regulate the timing of life‐history transitions. Increased taxonomic sampling is required foster conclusions about evolution NO/cGMP signaling during We report on localization NO cGMP metamorphosis nudibranch Phestilla sibogae . Pharmacological manipulation or production larvae modulated responses a natural settlement cue from coral Porites...
Abstract We previously reported that initiation of metamorphosis larvae Lytechinus pictus is negatively regulated by nitric oxide (NO) and cGMP. have examined the expression synthase (NOS) cGMP in cells developing larva. A section post‐oral ciliary band feeding includes neural defined their both NOS echinoderm neural‐specific antibody 1E11. These neurons project processes to pre‐oral neuropile during larval development. Larvae regenerated this after its excision, complete with NOS‐defined...
Here, we report the discovery and characterization of biominerals in acorn worms Saccoglossus bromophenolosus Ptychodera flava galapagos (Phylum: Hemichordata). Using electron microscopy, X-ray microprobe analyses confocal Raman spectroscopy, show that hemichordate are small CaCO 3 aragonitic elements restricted to specialized epidermal structures, S. bromophenolosus, apparently secreted by sclerocytes. Investigation urchin biomineralizing proteins translated genome expressed sequence tag...
Abstract The unicellular green alga Oophila amblystomatis was named by Lambert in 1905 based upon its association with egg masses of the spotted salamander Ambystoma maculatum . We collected algal cells from Lambert's original capsule preparations that were contributed to Phycotheca Boreali‐Americana (PBA) and subjected them DNA extraction PCR O. ‐specific 18S rRNA gene primers. amplified these cloned nine clones sequenced. Along representative sequences clade Chlorophyceae, a phylogenetic...
Elucidating processes and mechanisms involved in rapid local adaptation to varied environments is a poorly understood but crucial component management of invasive species. Recent studies have proposed that genetic epigenetic variation could both contribute ecological adaptation, yet it remains unclear on the interplay between these two components underpinning wild animal populations. To assess their respective contributions we explored epigenomic genomic responses environmental heterogeneity...
Summary In many marine animals, adult habitat is selected by lecithotrophic (non-feeding) larvae with a limited lifespan. generalist species, may increasingly accept sub-optimal over time as energy stores are depleted (‘desperate larva’ hypothesis). If the fitness cost of suboptimal too high, specialists prolong searching phase until encountering high-quality patch or dying (‘death before dishonor’ generalists, starvation hypothesized to lead decline in inhibitory nitric oxide (NO)...
Green algae usually assigned to the genus Oophila are known colonize egg capsules of amphibian masses across Nearctic and Palearctic regions. We study phylogenetic relationships these using a phylotranscriptomic data set 76 protein-coding single-copy nuclear genes. Our includes novel RNAseq for six amphibian-associated five free-living green algae, draft genomes two latter. Within clade (nested within Moewusinia), we find samples from European frogs (Rana dalmatina R. temporaria) closely...
Sea urchins have been used as experimental organisms for developmental biology over a century. Yet, is the case many other marine invertebrates, understanding development of juveniles and adults has lagged far behind that their embryos larvae. The reasons this are, in large part, due to difficulty experimentally manipulating juvenile development. Here we develop validate technique injecting compounds into rudiments purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. We first document...
:Aquatic egg masses of several North American amphibians associate symbiotically with the unicellular green alga Oophila amblystomatis (Chlorophyceae). Studies conducted on yellow spotted salamander prior to molecular era concluded that O. invaded from surrounding water but no definitive identification this taxon known breeding habitat has been reported. A recent report provided evidence for intergenerational transfer symbionts, thereby heightening need generate more their provenance. To end...
Abstract Tritonia diomedea (synonymous with T. tetraquetra) navigates in turbulent odour plumes, crawling upstream towards prey and downstream to avoid predators. This is likely accomplished by odour-gated rheotaxis, but other possibilities have not been excluded. Our goal was test whether uses rheotaxis simultaneously determine which of the cephalic sensory organs (rhinophores oral veil) are required for navigation. In a first experiment, slugs showed no coherent responses streams directed...