Seeing Double: Taking a Look at Cloning in Dendraster excentricus

Abstract

Cloning is a form of asexual reproduction that occurs in Dendraster excentricus and results in a decrease in size and developmental stage. Previous research has shown that D.excentricus larvae at the 4-6 arm stage clone both in response to predator cues and to an increase in nutrients. It is not known if the 4-6 arm is the stage where larvae clone the most or if they can even clone at other developmental stages. In the current study, individual larva were given food pulses at one of two developmental stages: the 4 arm stage [(4 days post fertilization (dpf)] and at the 6-8 arm stage (7 dpf). While it cannot be said for certain there were any cloning events, there was a large decrease in size of the larvae given the 4 dpf pulse from 5 dpf to 11 dpf as well as some morphological oddities that could have indicated cloning; one larva appeared to be budding.