HINMAN, Veronica, F*; DAVIDSON, Eric, H; Caltech; Caltech: Evolution of Mesoderm Specification in Echinoderms: Gene Regulatory Network Architectural Reorganization Across Immense Periods of Evolutionary Time This presentation will focus on the gene regulatory network (GRN) evolution of endomesodermal specification among echinoderms. GRNs detail the regulatory interconnections that prescribe developmental fate. Currently, there exists an extensive […]

DAVIDSON, Brad; Univ. of California, Berkeley: Ascidian mesoderm specification and the emergence of the chordate body plan Ascidians occupy a crucial evolutionary position at the base of the chordates. Intensive research into early ascidian development has begun to illuminate the evolutionary relationship between mesoderm development in ascidians and higher chordates. It appears that aspects of […]

Meeting Abstract S5-2.2  Friday, Jan. 4  Toward a Dynamic Model of Yolk Steroid Deposition and Utilization MOORE, Michael*; JOHNSTON, Gwynne; Arizona State University; Arizona State University michael.moore@asu.edu The discovery by Schwabl that maternal steroid hormones are transferred to the egg yolk and have effects on offspring phenotype revealed a new pathway for non-genetic maternal effects. The initial […]

Meeting Abstract S5-2.1  Friday, Jan. 4  Maternally-derived steroids in amphibian eggs WIDDER, P.D.*; BELDEN, L.K.; Virginia Tech widder@vt.edu Most amphibian eggs differ from bird and reptile eggs by being smaller in size and larger in number. While they share these traits with fish, the cleavage of a newly fertilized amphibian egg is holoblastic, with the yolk completely […]

Meeting Abstract S5-2.3  Friday, Jan. 4  Hormone-mediated Maternal Effects in Birds: Mechanisms GROOTHUIS, T G G *; SCHWABL, H; University of Groningen, NL; Washington State University Pullman, USA t.groothuis@biol.rug.nl Over the past decade birds have proven to be excellent models to study steroid hormone-mediated maternal effects in an evolutionary framework. Most studies focus on the function of […]

Meeting Abstract S5-2.4  Thursday, Jan. 5  Low genetic diversity across the Pacific Ocean in the pelagic sea snake, Pelamis platurus SHEEHY III, C.M.*; LILLYWHITE, H.B.; PFALLER, J.B.; Univ. of Texas at Arlington; Univ. of Florida; Univ. of Florida cmsheehy@uta.edu The Yellow-bellied sea snake, Pelamis platurus, inhabits warm tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans and is […]

Meeting Abstract S5-2.1  Thursday, Jan. 5  Long term field study of sea kraits in New Caledonia: fundamental and conservation issues BONNET, X; CNRS CEBC France bonnet@cebc.cnrs.fr A long term field study focusing on two sea krait species was set up in New Caledonia in 2002. More than 30 sites were sampled, and in most places mark-recapture procedure […]

Meeting Abstract S5-2.2  Thursday, Jan. 5  Ecology of Epibiosis: What Can We Learn From Marine Reptiles PFALLER, Joseph B.*; FRICK, Michael G.; BRISCHOUX, Francois E. O.; SHEEHY III, Coleman M.; LILLYWHITE, Harvey B.; Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL; Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL; Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL; Univ. of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX; Univ. of […]

Meeting Abstract S5-2.3  Thursday, Jan. 5  Ecological innovation and speciation in viviparous sea snakes (Hydrophiinae) SANDERS, K L*; RASMUSSEN, A R; DE SILVA, A; MUMPUNI, n/a; UKUWELA, D B; University of Adelaide, Australia; Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Denmark; Amphibia and Reptile Research Organisation of Sri Lanka; Museum of Zoology, Bogor; University of Adelaide, Australia kate.sanders@adelaide.edu.au […]

Meeting Abstract S5-2.2  Saturday, Jan. 5  Social regulation of male reproductive plasticity in an African cichlid fish MARUSKA, K.P.*; FERNALD, R.D.; Louisiana State Univ, Baton Rouge; Stanford Univ, CA kmaruska@lsu.edu Social interactions and position in a dominance hierarchy can have profound effects on reproductive behavior and physiology, requiring animals’ to constantly integrate environmental information with their internal […]