Global Journal of Science Frontier Research: B Chemistry Volume 16 Issue 2 Version 1.0 Year 2016 Type : Double Blind Peer Reviewed International Research Journal Publisher: Global Journals Inc. (USA) Online ISSN: 2249-4626 & Print ISSN: 0975-5896 Field and Laboratory Studies on Four Species of Sea Squirts and their Larvae By Gaber Ahmed Saad & Abdullah Bedeer Hussein Dammam University, Saudi Arabia Abstract- The aim of this study was to characterize adult distribution with respect to light and analyze ovary contents in the four seasons of the year. The swimming behavior of Ciona intestinalis, Molgula manhattensis, Ascidella aspersa and Phallusia mammilata larvae against certain abiotic factors were commented. For the field data on adult distributions, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to test for differences in adult orientation, with surface orientation as a fixed factor. Two adult species (Ciona intestinalis and Molgula manhattensis) showed no orientation with respect to light while in the other two species (Ascidella aspersa and Phallusia mammilata) light exerted a significant effects on the orientation and density of individuals. To evaluate among the different species the level of gregariousness found in the field, the number of individuals per clump for each species has been compared using one-way ANOVA, with species as a fixed factor. Artificial heterologous inseminations were carried out. Keywords: field data - gregariousness - heterologous inseminations -adult orientation - larval settlement – phototaxis - geotaxis. GJSFR-B Classification : FOR Code: 069999 FieldandLaboratoryStudiesonFourSpeciesofSeaSquirtsandtheirLarvae Strictly as per the compliance and regulations of : © 2016. Gaber Ahmed Saad & Abdullah Bedeer Hussein. This is a research/review paper, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/), permitting all non commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Field and Laboratory Studies on Four Species of Sea Squirts and their Larvae α σ Gaber Ahmed Saad & Abdullah Bedeer Hussein Abstract- The aim of this study was to characterize adult I. Introduction distribution with respect to light and analyze ovary contents in the four seasons of the year. The swimming behavior of Ciona he metamorphosis of the ascidian tadpole larvae intestinalis, Molgula manhattensis, Ascidella aspersa and has long attracted the interest of many authors. Phallusia mammilata larvae against certain abiotic factors were Using tadpoles of Ciona , Phallusia, Ascidia ,Styela, 2016 commented. For the field data on adult distributions, one-way T r Styelopsis, Distomus, Clavelina and Distaplia, Berrill analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to test for ea (1947 a & b) ; Byrne et al. (2003) concluded that Y differences in adult orientation, with surface orientation as a ascidians spread only during larval stage and acid fixed factor. Two adult species (Ciona intestinalis and Molgula 251 manhattensis) showed no orientation with respect to light while metabolites produced by the activity of the tail were the in the other two species (Ascidella aspersa and Phallusia inducing agent of metamophosis. Moreover, two factors mammilata) light exerted a significant effects on the orientation were identified during the metamorphosis of the and density of individuals. To evaluate among the different ascidian tadpole, namely 'aging factor' which is the species the level of gregariousness found in the field, the progressive exhaustion of the yolk reserves of the V number of individuals per clump for each species has been epidermis. The epidermis, muscles and notochord are II compared using one-way ANOVA, with species as a fixed ue ersion I affected. 'Nutritive exhaustion' culminates in the s s factor. Artificial heterologous inseminations were carried out. centripetal contraction of the epidermal envelope, a Three experiments were investigated in the laboratory on I metamorphosed larvae of the four species. The first contraction that appeared to have a disruptive effect XVI experiment tested geotaxis with respect to phototaxis during upon the tissues within (Underwood and Keough 2001). larval settlement. One species (Ciona intestinalis) showed a It was mentioned that adult ascidians are capable of clear preference for settlement on top surfaces Top > Lateral slow-crawling (Hecht, et al. 1977; Goodbody & = Bottom whereas the three species (Molgula manhattensis, Fisher1974 ; Goodbody &Gibson1974). This movement Ascidella aspersa and Phallusia mammilata ) settled on the involved the progressive formation of new colonies for ) B bottom than elsewhere Bottom > Lateral = Top. In the attachment. Through light microscopy examination, ( second experiment, larvae were placed in wells in which half of Lester(1988) investigated the process of settlement and the top, bottom or lateral surfaces were covered by black tape metamophosis of Rhabdopleura nomani (Hemichordata: while the other half of these surfaces were exposed to light. Pterobranchia). These colonies were collected from Few number of larvae in one species preferred the top Research Volume regardless of light direction dark = light while three species Brmuda, USA. He concluded that the swimming larvae showed a significant interaction between light/ darkness and settle within 24 hrs. In the work of Cloney (1961), it was position, showing a marked preference for dark surfaces and mentioned that the resorption of the tail of Boltenia bottom orientation. Larvae of two species continued to prefer vilosa, Pyura haustorlo and Styela gibbsii began Frontier bottom surface in the light but selected both bottom and top proximally and progresses distally. The sheath at the in the dark. One species changed light preferences depending anterior end of the notochord ruptured at the beginning on the surface considered, The third experiment tested the of tail resorptuon. The matrix of notochord flowed into Science effect of adult mantle extract on larval settlement. One species the body cavity of the trunk. The muscle cells shorten of (Ascidella aspersa) showed little effect of mantle tissues extract while the other three species (Ciona intestinalis, and buckle as the tail shortened and the myofibrills of Molgula manhattensis and Phallusia mammilata) showed a these cells become disarranged. Gilbert and Raunio significant inhibition of settlement. (1997) mentioned that there are many reasons of why Journal Keywords: field data - gregariousness - heterologous ascidians are popular as research animals in inseminations -adult orientation - larval settlement – developmental biology. In fact, ascidian embryos and phototaxis - geotaxis. larvae have a small number of cells, at the beginning of Global gastrulation, ascidian embryos contain only about 110 cells whereas amphibian gastrulae contain about10 000 Author α: Department of Biology, Deanship of preparatory year and supporting studies, Dammam University, Saudi Arabia, KSA, cells. Ascidian tadpole larva consists of a few thousand Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, cells and only six different tissues. Ascidian larvae Alexandria, Egypt. e-mail: [email protected] develop rapidly. Swimming larvae hatched after 12-18 Author σ: Department of Biology, Deanship of preparatory year and hrs post fertilization. Some ascidians have eggs with supporting studies, Dammam University, Saudi Arabia, KSA, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, colored cytoplasmic regions. These regions distribute Mansoura, Egypt. during cleavage to specific blastomeres. This feature ©2016 Global Journals Inc. (US) Field and Laboratory Studies on Four Species of Sea Squirts and their Larvae allows cell fates to be followed by routine microscopy. 2007; Whiteley & Bendell-Young 2007), which may Ascidians may provide basic information about the cause aggregation. Phototactic and/or geotactic development of more complex chordates such as behavior of the larvae can determine where settlement vertebrates. Ascidians have small genomes that occurs (Svane and Young 1989). For all these reasons, facilitate cloning genes involved in developmental settlement has the capacity to influence habitat process from another point of view, there are some selection, determining adult distribution patterns of limitations in using ascidians as an experimental system. sedentary species (Underwood & Keough 2001). Cloney This is due to the fact that most of them have restricted (1990) listed 10 principal events of ascidian breeding seasons and living embryos can be obtained metamorphosis: Secretion of adhesives by papillae or only at certain times of the year. Moreover, genetic the epidermis of the trunk; Eversion and retraction of analysis is not available as it is in Drosophila for papillae; Resorption of the tail; Loss of the outer example. However, genetic approaches have been cuticular layer of the larval tunic; Emigration of blood 2016 developed in some of the compound ascidians cells or pigment cells; Rotation of visceral organs (Rinkevich and Weissman (1987). It is well-known that through an arc of about 90 degrees; Expansion of the ear ascidians live solitary or colonial. In the text-books such branchial basket and elongation of the oozooid or Y as by Young, et al. (1988), Satoh (1994), and Gilbert & juvenile; Expansion, elongation or reciprocation of 26 Raunio (1997), the solitary forms are commonly