Insights into spawning behavior and development of the European amphioxus (Branchiostoma lanceolatum).
The cephalochordate amphioxus (Branchiostoma sp.) is an important animal model for studying the evolution of chordate developmental mechanisms. Obtaining amphioxus embryos is a key step for these studies. It has been shown that an increase of 3-4 degrees C in water temperature triggers spawning of the European amphioxus (Branchiostoma lanceolatum) in captivity, however, very little is known about the natural spawning behavior of this species in the field. In this work, we have followed the spawning behavior of the European amphioxus during two spawning seasons (2004 and 2005), both in the field and in captivity. We show that animals in the field spawn approximately from mid-May through early July, but depending on the year, they show different patterns of spawning. Thus, even if temperature has a critical role in the induction of the spawning in captivity, it is not the major factor in the field. Moreover, we report some improvements on the methodology for inducing spawning in captivity (e.g. in maintenance, light cycle control and induction of spawning in a laboratory without running sea water system). These studies have important implications for amphioxus animal husbandry and for improving laboratory techniques to develop amphioxus as an experimental animal model.
Fuentes
Michael
M
Laboratoire Arago, UMR7628 CNRS, University Pierre and Marie Curie-Paris6 Banyuls sur Mer, F-66650, France.
Benito
Elia
E
Bertrand
Stephanie
S
Paris
Mathilde
M
Mignardot
Aurelie
A
Godoy
Laura
L
Jimenez-Delgado
Senda
S
Oliveri
Diana
D
Candiani
Simona
S
Hirsinger
Estelle
E
D'Aniello
Salvatore
S
Pascual-Anaya
Juan
J
Maeso
Ignacio
I
Pestarino
Mario
M
Vernier
Philippe
P
Nicolas
Jean-François
JF
Schubert
Michael
M
Laudet
Vincent
V
Geneviere
Anne Marie
AM
Albalat
Ricard
R
Garcia Fernandez
Jordi
J
Holland
Nicholas D
ND
Escriva
Hector
H
D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D002816:Chordata, Nonvertebrate / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction