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Nonspecific expression of fertilization genes in the crown‐of‐thorns <i>Acanthaster</i> cf. <i>solaris</i>: Unexpected evidence of hermaphroditism in a coral reef predator
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- Vanessa Guerra
- Department of Biological Sciences Simon Fraser University Burnaby BC Canada
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- Gwilym Haynes
- Department of Biological Sciences Simon Fraser University Burnaby BC Canada
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- Maria Byrne
- Schools of Medical and Biological Sciences The University of Sydney Sydney Australia
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- Nina Yasuda
- Department of Marine Biology and Environmental Science Faculty of Agriculture University of Miyazaki Miyazaki Japan
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- Souta Adachi
- School of Marine Science and Technology Tokai University Shimizu Shizuoka Japan
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- Masako Nakamura
- School of Marine Science and Technology Tokai University Shimizu Shizuoka Japan
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- Shu Nakachi
- Natural History Laboratory Kochi Japan
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- Michael W. Hart
- Department of Biological Sciences Simon Fraser University Burnaby BC Canada
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Description
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>The characterization of gene expression in gametes has advanced our understanding of the molecular basis for ecological variation in reproductive success and the evolution of reproductive isolation. These advances are especially significant for ecologically important keystone predators such as the coral‐eating crown‐of‐thorns sea stars (COTS, <jats:italic>Acanthaster</jats:italic>) which are the most influential predator species in Indo‐Pacific coral reef ecosystems and the focus of intensive management efforts. We used RNA‐seq and transcriptome assemblies to characterize the expression of genes in mature COTS gonads. We described the sequence and domain organization of eight genes with sex‐specific expression and well known functions in fertilization in other echinoderms. We found unexpected expression of genes in one ovary transcriptome that are characteristic of males and sperm, including genes that encode the sperm‐specific guanylate cyclase receptor for an egg pheromone, and the sperm acrosomal protein bindin. In a reassembly of previously published RNA‐seq data from COTS testes, we found a complementary pattern: strong expression of four genes that are otherwise well known to encode egg‐specific fertilization proteins, including the egg receptor for bindin (EBR1) and the acrosome reaction‐inducing substance in the egg coat (ARIS1, ARIS2, ARIS3). We also found histological evidence of both eggs and sperm developing in the same gonad in several COTS individuals from a parallel study. These results suggest the occurrence of hermaphrodites, and the potential for reproductive assurance via self‐fertilization. Our findings have implications for management of COTS populations, especially in consideration of the large size and massive fecundity of these sea stars.</jats:p>
Journal
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- Molecular Ecology
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Molecular Ecology 29 (2), 363-379, 2020-01
Wiley
