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The effect of temperature on the evolution of per offspring investment in a globally distributed family of marine invertebrates (Crustacea: Decapoda: Lithodidae)

The effect of temperature on the evolution of per offspring investment in a globally distributed family of marine invertebrates (Crustacea: Decapoda: Lithodidae)
The effect of temperature on the evolution of per offspring investment in a globally distributed family of marine invertebrates (Crustacea: Decapoda: Lithodidae)
Within the marine environment, per offspring investment (POI) is associated with modes in larval development; an increase in POI has often been described with a decrease in temperature, as evidenced along latitudinal clines. However, the environmental drivers of POI remain largely hypothetical, and have not yet been tested within an evolutionary context. Here, we test the hypothesis that developmental temperature is linked to POI within a globally distributed and diverse family of benthic crustaceans, the Lithodidae, also known as stone or king crab. To do this, we examine variations in egg diameter – a proven corollary of POI – within the Lithodidae. Based on a rare case of well-construed phylogeny, we test the relationship between egg diameter and two aspects of the maternal physical environment; water depth and temperature. We observe a significant relationship between decreasing environmental temperature and an increase in POI within genera of lithodid crabs, and independent of depth. There is a clear correlation of high levels in POI with a decrease in temperature in lithodid crab genera currently inhabiting the deep-sea, all of which follow a food-independent (lecithotrophic) mode of larval development. In contrast, lithodid genera thriving in the warmer waters of shallow (continental shelf) seas follow a feeding (planktotrophic) mode in larval development. We conclude that temperature is an important factor governing POI, and discuss its importance in the evolution of larval lecithotrophy in marine invertebrates.
0025-3162
Art.48
Thatje, S.
f1011fe3-1048-40c0-97c1-e93b796e6533
Hall, S.
a11a8f8b-d6fb-47a7-82b1-1f76d2f170dc
Thatje, S.
f1011fe3-1048-40c0-97c1-e93b796e6533
Hall, S.
a11a8f8b-d6fb-47a7-82b1-1f76d2f170dc

Thatje, S. and Hall, S. (2016) The effect of temperature on the evolution of per offspring investment in a globally distributed family of marine invertebrates (Crustacea: Decapoda: Lithodidae). Marine Biology, 163 (3), Art.48. (doi:10.1007/s00227-015-2776-8).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Within the marine environment, per offspring investment (POI) is associated with modes in larval development; an increase in POI has often been described with a decrease in temperature, as evidenced along latitudinal clines. However, the environmental drivers of POI remain largely hypothetical, and have not yet been tested within an evolutionary context. Here, we test the hypothesis that developmental temperature is linked to POI within a globally distributed and diverse family of benthic crustaceans, the Lithodidae, also known as stone or king crab. To do this, we examine variations in egg diameter – a proven corollary of POI – within the Lithodidae. Based on a rare case of well-construed phylogeny, we test the relationship between egg diameter and two aspects of the maternal physical environment; water depth and temperature. We observe a significant relationship between decreasing environmental temperature and an increase in POI within genera of lithodid crabs, and independent of depth. There is a clear correlation of high levels in POI with a decrease in temperature in lithodid crab genera currently inhabiting the deep-sea, all of which follow a food-independent (lecithotrophic) mode of larval development. In contrast, lithodid genera thriving in the warmer waters of shallow (continental shelf) seas follow a feeding (planktotrophic) mode in larval development. We conclude that temperature is an important factor governing POI, and discuss its importance in the evolution of larval lecithotrophy in marine invertebrates.

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Published date: March 2016
Organisations: Ocean and Earth Science

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Local EPrints ID: 386962
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/386962
ISSN: 0025-3162
PURE UUID: b26cd59c-e00e-4ee7-9a6f-1b82caef0476

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Date deposited: 05 Feb 2016 14:00
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 22:40

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Author: S. Thatje
Author: S. Hall

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