Development and reproductive cycle of the sea biscuit Clypeaster subdepressus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) from São Sebastião, SP

• Grant number: 06/01898-7
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2006
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2008
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Morphology of Recent Groups
• Principal researcher: Alvaro Esteves Migotto
• Grantee: Bruno Cossermelli Vellutini
• Home Institution: Centro de Biologia Marinha (CEBIMAR). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Sebastião , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project will investigate the developmental patterns and reproductive cycle of the sea biscuit Clypeaster subdepressus from São Sebastião Channel, northern coast of São Paulo State. Despite its wide distribution along the American Atlantic coast, there is no detailed descriptive study concerning gonadal development through out the year neither a complete characterization of its ontogeny. Clypeaster subdepressus belongs to the Clypeasteroida, a curiously distinct taxon from its phylogenetically closest order (Cassiduloida), showing new morphological features. As the Clypeasteroida evolution seems to be directly related to a paedomorphosis event, it is expected that embryological data from extant species should provide theoretical background to test hypothesis on how these innovations arose and what are the evolutive parameters involved. Therefore, a wide knowledge of the reproductive biology of this species is an essential part of the investigation. This project will describe the development, including temporal data for developmental stages, and the analysis of C. subdepressus reproductive cycles, by employing direct methods, as gonads histological sections and variation of eggs diameter over the year, and indirect methods, verifying the presence of their planktonic larvae in the water.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

VELLUTINI, BRUNO C.; MIGOTTO, ALVARO E. Embryonic, Larval, and Juvenile Development of the Sea Biscuit Clypeaster subdepressus (Echinodermata: Clypeasteroida). PLoS One, v. 5, n. 3 MAR 22 2010. Web of Science Citations: 12.

VELLUTINI‚ B.C.; MIGOTTO‚ A.E. Embryonic‚ Larval‚ and Juvenile Development of the Sea Biscuit Clypeaster subdepressus (Echinodermata: Clypeasteroida). PLoS One, v. 5, n. 3, p. e9654, 2010.