—The monophyly of Microhylidae is supported by an overwhelming accumulation of synapomorphic larval features. Despite the distinctiveness of the microhylid tadpole, few studies have focused on larval development. Microhylid larval morphology is usually described and based on standard tables that imply that developmental events at equivalent stages of overall tadpole development are independent ...

The average pH of surface oceans has decreased by 0.1 unit since industrialization and is expected to decrease by another 0.3-0.7 units before the year 2300 due to the absorption of anthropogenic CO2. This human-caused pH change is posing serious threats and challenges to the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas), especially to their larval stages. Our knowledge of the effect of reduced pH on C. g...

Background: Mosquitoes are responsible for the transmission of many pathogens and parasites and consequently serious diseases in humans. Currently, application of plant derivatives has been suggested as an alternative bio-control technique for these medically important vectors. Methods: In this study the essential oil and methanol extract of Achilleaw...

The potential effect of larval condition on adult immunity in holometabolous insects is rarely considered. We show here that larval food composition can impact adult immunity independent from effects on general condition of the animal. Rather, our data indicate a plastic allocation of resources to immunity in high-protein environments. Specifically, we found that increasing the nutritional yeas...

The hypothesis that reef fish larvae have some influence on their dispersal is examined by direct observations of pelagic processes. For this purpose, we utilized highresolution and quasi-synoptic measurements of current and ichthyoplankton fields in the vicinity of the island of Barbados, West Indies. The study was conducted during May of 1996 and 1997, in an area extending approximately 15 km...

We investigated the nutritional condition of larval fishes caught in daily ichthyoplankton hauls in the ‘Helgoland Roads’ (54° 11.18’ N and 07° 54.00’ E) from February to June 2004. We concentrated on larvae of dab Limanda limanda and lesser sandeel Ammodytes marinus in order to compare early life stages of iteroparous and nearly semelparous fish. We analysed length, weight and RNA:DNA ratios a...

The life cycle of most benthic marine invertebrates has two distinct stages: the pelagic larval stage and the sessile juvenile stage. The transition between the larval stage and the juvenile stage is often abrupt and may be triggered by post-translational modification of proteins. Glycosylation, a very important post-translational modification, influences the biological activity of proteins. We...

1. Adult size and development time are the outcomes of growth and differentiation throughout the life of an individual organism – its developmental trajectory. Correlations among ages and sizes across different life stages may influence both direct and indirect components of selection on body size and age during development. 2. We used two field studies in experimental gardens in fall and summe...

Abstract We describe the immature stages and oviposition behavior of Veladyris pardalis (Salvin, 1869) from northeastern Ecuador. An unidentified species of Solanum (Solanaceae) is the larval food plant. Eggs are laid singly on leaves, stems or epiphytes growing on the host. Veladyris pardalis has four larval stadia, and takes 64-70 days to mature from oviposition to adult.