Allelic inheritance in naturally occurring parthenogenetic offspring of the gonochoric sea star <i>Patiria miniata</i>

Sunday, Jennifer M.; Raeburn, Lisa; Stewart, Heather; Hart, Michael W.

doi:10.1111/j.1744-7410.2008.00165.x

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Such cases run counter to the paradigm of variable fertilization rates in the sea, in which low fertilization rates for eggs released more than ~ 1 m from sperm are caused by low sperm density and decreased sperm‐egg contacts (Levitan, Sewell, & Chia, ; Pennington, ). Isolated females of the sea star Patiria miniata also occasionally release eggs with a fertilization envelope and these develop into functional larvae and juveniles (Sunday, Raeburn, Stewart & Hart, ). As in COTS, gross examination of the gonads of these “female” P. miniata did not reveal evidence of testis tissue.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonspecific expression of fertilization genes in the crown‐of‐thorns Acanthaster cf. solaris: Unexpected evidence of hermaphroditism in a coral reef predator

et al. 2020

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The characterization of gene expression in gametes has advanced our understanding of the molecular basis for ecological variation in reproductive success and the evolution of reproductive isolation. These advances are especially significant for ecologically important keystone predators such as the coral‐eating crown‐of‐thorns sea stars (COTS, Acanthaster) which are the most influential predator species in Indo‐Pacific coral reef ecosystems and the focus of intensive management efforts. We used RNA‐seq and transcriptome assemblies to characterize the expression of genes in mature COTS gonads. We described the sequence and domain organization of eight genes with sex‐specific expression and well known functions in fertilization in other echinoderms. We found unexpected expression of genes in one ovary transcriptome that are characteristic of males and sperm, including genes that encode the sperm‐specific guanylate cyclase receptor for an egg pheromone, and the sperm acrosomal protein bindin. In a reassembly of previously published RNA‐seq data from COTS testes, we found a complementary pattern: strong expression of four genes that are otherwise well known to encode egg‐specific fertilization proteins, including the egg receptor for bindin (EBR1) and the acrosome reaction‐inducing substance in the egg coat (ARIS1, ARIS2, ARIS3). We also found histological evidence of both eggs and sperm developing in the same gonad in several COTS individuals from a parallel study. These results suggest the occurrence of hermaphrodites, and the potential for reproductive assurance via self‐fertilization. Our findings have implications for management of COTS populations, especially in consideration of the large size and massive fecundity of these sea stars.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonspecific expression of fertilization genes in the crown‐of‐thorns Acanthaster cf. solaris: Unexpected evidence of hermaphroditism in a coral reef predator

et al. 2020

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“…Developmental failure in these embryos may have resulted from a number of factors, including disruption of cell cycle in zygotic embryos and arrested development of mictic parthenogens (Ghiselin 1987;Mori et al 2006;Sunday et al 2009). Although it is not possible to discern between these factors, parthenogenesis and arrested development of parthenogens have been observed in Patiria miniata and other sea stars (Newman 1921;Mori et al 2006;Sunday et al 2009). A large proportion of simultaneously hermaphroditic marine invertebrate species has the ability to self-fertilize (38%, Jarne and Charlesworth 1993).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%