PECHENIK, J.A.; Tufts University, Medford, MA: Larval experience and carryover effects�metamorphosis is not a new beginning For many years ecologists have documented the variation inherent in natural systems�e.g., variability in growth rates, fecundities, time to reproductive maturity, mortality rates, the outcomes of competitive interactions, and tolerance to pollutants. Over the past 20 years, it has […]

PADILLA, Dianna K; Stony Brook University: Larry McEdward’s legacy and influence on future research in complex life histories. Larry McEdward was a leader of the field of ecological physiology, and evolutionary ecology of marine invertebrate larvae and complex life histories. Complex life histories are an important aspect of the biology of animals, and occur in […]

SWALLA, Billie J.; University of Washington: To Settle or to Swim? Ascidian Larval Decisions Tunicates have a variety of life histories and larval morphologies that make them a fascinating group of animals to study transitions in larval life history. Within one family, the Molgulidae, tailless larvae have evolved many times independently and this transition is […]

LEVIN, Lisa A.; Scripps Institution of Oceanography: Recent Progress in Understanding Larval Dispersal: New Directions and Digressions Many questions about larvae have been difficult to address because their small size limits our ability to know who they are, where they go and what conditions they experience. The longstanding desire to understand the identity, behavior and […]

STRATHMANN, RR*; GR�NBAUM, D; Univ. of Washington, Friday Harbor; Univ. of Washingston, Seattle: Good Eaters, Poor Swimmers: Compromises in Larval Form Ciliated larvae in six phyla achieve high clearance rates (the volume of water cleared of food per time) by development of long ciliary bands extended on arms, tentacles, or lobes. In evolution of pelagic […]

WRAY, G. A.; WRAY, ; WRAY, ; WRAY, ; WRAY, ; WRAY, ; WRAY, ; WRAY, ; Duke University: Evolutionary mechanisms that operate on embryonic gene expression in purple sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus Many evolutionary modifications in development derive from changes in embryonic gene expression. However, the genetic variation affecting gene expression that is segregating […]

BYRNE, M; University of Sydney: Evo-Devo and the Asteroidea The Asterinidae is a species-rich asteroid family in Australia with the full array of mating systems, larval types and developmental habitats seen in marine invertebrates. Using ““Patiriella and Cryptasterina as model systems, we use the comparative approach to determine what aspects of maternal provisioning and development […]

PAULAY, G.; MEYER, C. P.; University of Florida, Gainesville: Dispersal and divergence across the greatest ocean: Do larvae matter? For benthic taxa, the duration of larval planktonic period is expected to correlate with dispersal ability, and thus with the extent of species ranges, at least in settings where planktonic dispersal is necessary to reach available […]

MINER, BG; Univ. of California, Davis: A Tribute to Larry McEdward and an Introduction to the Symposium Dr. Larry McEdward was a leader in the fields of larval ecology and marine invertebrate life histories. In 2001, Dr. McEdward unexpectedly passed away. To honor Dr. McEdward, we have organized a symposium to review the recent advances […]

JERNVALL, Jukka; KANGAS, Aapo; KAVANAGH, Kathryn; SALAZAR-CIUDAD, Isaac; Univ. of Helsinki, Finland; Univ. of Helsinki, Finland; Univ. of Helsinki, Finland; Univ. of Helsinki, Finland: Mammalian dental diversity: so many shapes, so few genes Why are there so many tooth shapes and why are some dental forms more common than others? Despite the high diversity of […]