Development Of Gametogenesis Research Articles

Correction to: Effects of temperature and salinity on the reproductive phases of Macrocystis pyrifera (L.) C. Agardh (Phaeophyceae) in the Magellan region

The region of Magallanes has the world’s largest sub-Antarctic environments, including the heterogeneous habitats of archipelagos, fjords, channels, and inlets formed by ice advancing and retreating during Quaternary glacial processes. In marine ecosystems, the temperature, salinity, and photoperiod are key parameters which delimit the survival, reproduction and development of the macroalgae and, therefore, the biogeography of numerous sub-Antarctic species. In this research, we compare the reproductive development patterns in spores of Macrocystis pyrifera coming from places with different salinities along longitudinal and latitudinal gradients in Skyring Sound, Otway Sound, the Strait of Magellan (Possession Bay and Puerto del Hambre), and the Beagle Channel (Paula Bay). Laboratory analyses included four salinities and two different temperatures, comparing the percentage of spore germination, sex ratio in females and male gametophytes, and the development of gametogenesis through the proportion of gametophytes and sporophytes, with a factorial experimental design. The best germination percentages were obtained in Puerto del Hambre; the best sex ratio, on the other hand, was in Skyring Sound; finaly, for gametogenesis development, the best results were obtained in Otway Sound and Possession Bay. We prove the temperature and salinity effect over the studied population; moreover, these results demonstrate that at the end of the cycle each population develops more effectively in their local conditions, evidence of a local adaptation in M. pyrifera populations living in contrasting sites in the same region. This is crucial to understand how these populations react to the effect of environmental stressors; furthermore, the selection of appropriate conditions is also an important factor for the future commercial cultivation management of these important macroalgae.

Effects of temperature and salinity on the reproductive phases of Macrocystis pyrifera (L.) C. Agardh (Phaeophyceae) in the Magellan region

The region of Magallanes has the world’s largest sub-Antarctic environments, including the heterogeneous habitats of archipelagos, fjords, channels, and inlets formed by ice advancing and retreating during Quaternary glacial processes. In marine ecosystems, the temperature, salinity, and photoperiod are key parameters which delimit the survival, reproduction and development of the macroalgae and, therefore, the biogeography of numerous sub-Antarctic species. In this research, we compare the reproductive development patterns in spores of Macrocystis pyrifera coming from places with different salinities along longitudinal and latitudinal gradients in Skyring Sound, Otway Sound, the Strait of Magellan (Possession Bay and Puerto del Hambre), and the Beagle Channel (Paula Bay). Laboratory analyses included four salinities and two different temperatures, comparing the percentage of spore germination, sex ratio in females and male gametophytes, and the development of gametogenesis through the proportion of gametophytes and sporophytes, with a factorial experimental design. The best germination percentages were obtained in Puerto del Hambre; the best sex ratio, on the other hand, was in Skyring Sound; finaly, for gametogenesis development, the best results were obtained in Otway Sound and Possession Bay. We prove the temperature and salinity effect over the studied population; moreover, these results demonstrate that at the end of the cycle each population develops more effectively in their local conditions, evidence of a local adaptation in M. pyrifera populations living in contrasting sites in the same region. This is crucial to understand how these populations react to the effect of environmental stressors; furthermore, the selection of appropriate conditions is also an important factor for the future commercial cultivation management of these important macroalgae.

Dynamic and modular gene regulatory networks drive the development of gametogenesis.

Gametogenesis is a complex process, which includes mitosis and meiosis and results in the production of ovum and sperm. The development of gametogenesis is dynamic and needs many different genes to work synergistically, but it is lack of global perspective research about this process. In this study, we detected the dynamic process of gametogenesis from the perspective of systems biology based on protein-protein interaction networks (PPINs) and functional analysis. Results showed that gametogenesis genes have strong synergistic effects in PPINs within and between different phases during the development. Addition to the synergistic effects on molecular networks, gametogenesis genes showed functional consistency within and between different phases, which provides the further evidence about the dynamic process during the development of gametogenesis. At last, we detected and provided the core molecular modules of different phases about gametogenesis. The gametogenesis genes and related modules can be obtained from our Web site Gametogenesis Molecule Online (GMO, http://gametsonline.nwsuaflmz.com/index.php), which is freely accessible. GMO may be helpful for the reference and application of these genes and modules in the future identification of key genes about gametogenesis. Summary, this work provided a computational perspective and frame to the analysis of the gametogenesis dynamics and modularity in both human and mouse.

Climate change impacts on potential recruitment in an ecosystem engineer

Climate variability and the rapid warming of seas undoubtedly have huge ramifications for biological processes such as reproduction. As such, gametogenesis and spawning were investigated at two sites over 200 km apart on the south coast of Ireland in an ecosystem engineer, the common cockle, Cerastoderma edule. Both sites are classed as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), but are of different water quality. Cerastoderma edule plays a significant biological role by recycling nutrients and affecting sediment structure, with impacts upon assemblage biomass and functional diversity. It plays a key role in food webs, being a common foodstuff for a number of marine birds including the oystercatcher. Both before and during the study (early 2010–mid 2011), Ireland experienced its two coldest winters for 50 years. As the research demonstrated only slight variation in the spawning period between sites, despite site differences in water and environmental quality, temperature and variable climatic conditions were the dominant factor controlling gametogenesis. The most significant finding was that the spawning period in the cockle extended over a greater number of months compared with previous studies and that gametogenesis commenced over winter rather than in spring. Extremely cold winters may impact on the cockle by accelerating and extending the onset and development of gametogenesis. Whether this impact is positive or negative would depend on the associated events occurring on which the cockle depends, that is, presence of primary producers and spring blooms, which would facilitate conversion of this extended gametogenesis into successful recruitment.

Evidence of Chemical Communication During the Gametogenesis of Holothuroids

This research provides evidence for chemical mediation in the initiation of gametogenesis and interindividual fine—tuning among populations of the holothurian Cucumaria frondosa. Initiated in the laboratory by increased day length, the gametogenesis of C. frondosa developed normally when individuals were transferred to an environment in which temperature and photoperiod were held constant and food was withheld. Gonad development and spawning of these sea cucumbers occurred simultaneously with animals that were fed. Individuals collected from the deep aphotic zone showed gonadal indices and histological development of gametes synchronous with populations found in the shallower photic zone. These data strongly suggest that day length and temperature were not the sole factors controlling the onset and development of gametogenesis, but rather that they act synergistically with other mechanisms. Laboratory experiments showed that gametogenic synchrony was less for individuals separately maintained under natural environmental conditions than it was for similarly treated individuals kept in groups. Finally, gametogenesis was initiated by exposure to more developed individuals, even without the photoperiod cue. This induction, effective only between animals of the same sex, became more evident with increasing maturity of the more developed individuals.