20The normal embryogenesis of marine animals is typically confined to a species-specific range of 21 temperatures. Within that temperature range development results in a consistent, or canalized, phenotype,
22whereas above and below the range abnormal phenotypes are produced. This study reveals an abrupt high 23 temperature limit, occurring over a 1-2°C range, for normal embryonic development in C. intestinalis.
24Above that threshold morphological abnormalities in the notochord and other organs are observed, 25 beginning with cleavage and gastrula stages, and becoming more pronounced as embryogenesis proceeds.
26However, even in highly morphologically abnormal temperature disrupted (TD) embryos, cell type 27 specification, including muscle, endoderm, notochord, and sensory pigment cells is accomplished. An 28 explanation for this finding is that in C. intestinalis cell type specification occurs relatively early in 29 embryogenesis, due to cleavage stage segregation of maternal cytoplasmic determinants and short-range 30 cell interactions, which are largely intact in TD embryos. On the other hand, morphogenesis of the 31 notochord and other structures is dependent on precise cell movement and shape changes after the 32 gastrula stage, which appear to be disrupted above the high temperature threshold. These findings have 33 implications for the relationship between ecology and reproduction in C. intestinalis. More broadly they 34 point to mechanisms behind canalization in animals, such as ascidians, characterized by early, largely 35 autonomous, cell type specification. 36 37 38 39 42 temperature is a major determinant. This study seeks to establish which aspects of embryogenesis are the 43 most susceptible to high temperature in the model marine invertebrate Ciona.
44C. intestinalis, like many if not all animals, has a "normal" embryonic phenotype that is produced 45 over a range of environmental conditions. The ability for a developmental program to produce a 46 stereotyped outcome in spite of environmental variation has been termed "canalization" (Siegal and 47 Bergman, 2002; Waddington, 1942).
48While there has been much work done on the effects of water temperature on the overall life 49 history of marine invertebrates, a literature search reveals little work examining in detail water 50 temperature effects on embryogenesis itself. However, it is likely that the ability to develop to a 51 functional larval stage is an imporftant factor limiting the ranges of many marine invertebrates (Byrne et 52 al., 2009). It is also likely that embryologists historically have been more interested in how normal