Comparing dormancy in two distantly related tunicates reveals morphological, molecular, and ecological convergences and repeated co-option.

ABSTRACT: Many asexually-propagating marine invertebrates can survive extreme environmental conditions by developing dormant structures, i.e., morphologically simplified bodies that retain the capacity to completely regenerate a functional adult when conditions return to normal. Here, we examine the environmental, morphological, and molecular characteristics of dormancy in two distantly related clonal tunicate species: Polyandrocarpa zorritensis and Clavelina lepadiformis. In both species, we report that the dormant structures are able to withstand harsher temperature and salinity conditions compared to the adults. The dormant structures are the dominant forms these species employ to survive adverse conditions when the zooids themselves cannot survive. While previous work shows C. lepadiformis dorma

SUBMITTER: Hiebert LS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9308810 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature