Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/2445/43367
Title: Tough adults, frail babies: an analysis of stress sensitivity across early life-history stages of widely introduced marine invertebrates
Author: Pineda Torres, Mari Carmen
McQuaid, C.D.
Turon Barrera, Xavier
López Legentil, Susanna
Ordóñez Sánchez, Víctor
Rius Viladomiu, Marc
Keywords: Invertebrats marins
Biologia de poblacions
Cicles vitals (Biologia)
Marine invertebrates
Population biology
Life cycles (Biology)
Issue Date: 2012
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Abstract: All ontogenetic stages of a life cycle are exposed to environmental conditions so that population persistence depends on the performance of both adults and offspring. Most studies analysing the influence of abiotic conditions on species performance have focussed on adults, while studies covering early life-history stages remain rare. We investigated the responses of early stages of two widely introduced ascidians, Styela plicata and Microcosmus squamiger, to different abiotic conditions. Stressors mimicked conditions in the habitats where both species can be found in their distributional ranges and responses were related to the selection potential of their populations by analysing their genetic diversity. Four developmental stages (egg fertilisation, larval development, settlement, metamorphosis) were studied after exposure to high temperature (30°C), low salinities (26 and 22 ) and high copper concentrations (25, 50 and 100 µg/L). Although most stressors effectively led to failure of complete development (fertilisation through metamorphosis), fertilisation and larval development were the most sensitive stages. All the studied stressors affected the development of both species, though responses differed with stage and stressor. S. plicata was overall more resistant to copper, and some stages of M. squamiger to low salinities. No relationship was found between parental genetic composition and responses to stressors. We conclude that successful development can be prevented at several life-history stages, and therefore, it is essential to consider multiple stages when assessing species' abilities to tolerate stress. Moreover, we found that early development of these species cannot be completed under conditions prevailing where adults live. These populations must therefore recruit from elsewhere or reproduce during temporal windows of more benign conditions. Alternatively, novel strategies or behaviours that increase overall reproductive success might be responsible for ensuring population survival.
Note: Reproducció del document publicat a: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0046672
It is part of: PLoS One, 2012, vol. 7, num. 10, p. e46672
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2445/43367
Related resource: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0046672
ISSN: 1932-6203
Appears in Collections:Articles publicats en revistes (Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals)
Publicacions de projectes de recerca finançats per la UE

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