Embryonic development and implication for colonization of three ascidian species with different biogeographic status in Patagonia, Argentina
Abstract
Background. Ascidians (Chordata, Tunicata) have a free-swimming larva that develops into a sessile adult. Solitary species generally have external fertilization, although some perform internal fertilization, incubating the larvae before releasing them into water. These reproductive modes influence colonization success by affecting development time, exposure to environmental factors, and predation. Goals. This study compared the embryonic development of three solitary ascidians species from the intertidal zone of Río Negro, Argentina, with different biogeographic status in the area: Ciona robusta (invasive), Paramolgula gregaria (native) and Asterocarpa humilis (cryptogenic; i.e., when the available evidence is insufficient to determine the species’ origin). Methods. Eggs and sperm were extracted from individuals by dissection. Eggs were hydrated and fertilized, except in A. humilis, where cross-fertilization was unsuccessful, and embryos at different stages of development were collected from an incubating individual. Embryonic development, from embryo to larva, was recorded for all three species, including larval size measurements. Results. Ten developmental stages were identified in P. gregaria, and eight stages in both A. humilis and C. robusta, with all species completing their cycles in an urodele larval form. Ciona robusta showed the shortest overall development time, P. gregaria displayed the highest proportion of embryos successfully reaching the motile larval stage, while A. humilis exhibited the largest larva among the studied species. Conclusions. The differences in development time, larval size, and success rates suggest distinct adaptive strategies in each species, potentially influencing their establishment and dispersal capacities. This study provides novel data on the embryonic development of Paramolgula and Asterocarpa, shedding light on reproductive mechanisms that support the colonization and persistence of species with different biogeographic statuses in the Río Negro intertidal zone.
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