Induced metamorphosis in crustacean y-larvae: Towards a solution to a 100-year-old riddle
Abstract 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 speci...
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ftbiomed:oai:biomedcentral.com:1741-7007-6-21 2023-05-15T15:07:46+02:00 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 2008-05-20 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/6/21 en eng BioMed Central Ltd. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/6/21 Copyright 2008 Glenner et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. Research article 2008 ftbiomed 2008-06-20T23:12:02Z Abstract 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. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic BioMed Central Arctic The ''Y'' ENVELOPE(-112.453,-112.453,57.591,57.591) |
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Open Polar |
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BioMed Central |
op_collection_id |
ftbiomed |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract 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. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Glenner, Henrik Høeg, Jens T Grygier, Mark J Fujita, Yoshihisa |
spellingShingle |
Glenner, Henrik Høeg, Jens T Grygier, Mark J Fujita, Yoshihisa Induced metamorphosis in crustacean y-larvae: Towards a solution to a 100-year-old riddle |
author_facet |
Glenner, Henrik Høeg, Jens T Grygier, Mark J Fujita, Yoshihisa |
author_sort |
Glenner, Henrik |
title |
Induced metamorphosis in crustacean y-larvae: Towards a solution to a 100-year-old riddle |
title_short |
Induced metamorphosis in crustacean y-larvae: Towards a solution to a 100-year-old riddle |
title_full |
Induced metamorphosis in crustacean y-larvae: Towards a solution to a 100-year-old riddle |
title_fullStr |
Induced metamorphosis in crustacean y-larvae: Towards a solution to a 100-year-old riddle |
title_full_unstemmed |
Induced metamorphosis in crustacean y-larvae: Towards a solution to a 100-year-old riddle |
title_sort |
induced metamorphosis in crustacean y-larvae: towards a solution to a 100-year-old riddle |
publisher |
BioMed Central Ltd. |
publishDate |
2008 |
url |
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/6/21 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-112.453,-112.453,57.591,57.591) |
geographic |
Arctic The ''Y'' |
geographic_facet |
Arctic The ''Y'' |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_relation |
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/6/21 |
op_rights |
Copyright 2008 Glenner et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. |
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1766339200973537280 |