Comparative analysis of early ontogeny in Bursatella leachii and Aplysia californica

2014/12/11 by Zer Vue, Bishoy Kamel, Thomas R. Capo +2 · 1 citation
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · #Ichthyology and Marine Biology #Marine Biology and Ecology Research #Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies

paper · doi:10.7717/peerj.700

openalex publication_date 2014/12/11 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/03

Abstract

Opisthobranch molluscs exhibit fascinating body plans associated with the evolution of shell loss in multiple lineages. Sea hares in particular are interesting because Aplysia californica is a well-studied model organism that offers a large suite of genetic tools. Bursatella leachii is a related tropical sea hare that lacks a shell as an adult and therefore lends itself to comparative analysis with A. californica. We have established an enhanced culturing procedure for B. leachii in husbandry that enabled the study of shell formation and loss in this lineage with respect to A. californica life staging.

Citations

• Opisthobranchia (Mollusca, Gastropoda) – more than just slimy slugs. Shell reduction and its implications on defence and foraging
• Linking biogeography to physiology: Evolutionary and acclimatory adjustments of thermal limits
• A rapidly evolving secretome builds and patterns a sea shell
• Evolution of gastropod mitochondrial genome arrangements

Cited by

• Aplysiidae [wikipedia]