Projeto de pesquisa

Several studies have shown that there is extraordinary plasticity during the metamorphic phase of marine invertebrates - invertebrate larvae may postpone metamorphosis until finding a suitable habitat to settle, remaining adrift from weeks to months in the plankton. This phenomenon is termed metamorphosis delay and varies considerably among larvae, both inter- and intra-specifically, being an example of developmental plasticity. Yet, the physiological mechanisms underlying such plasticity are still understudied. Metamorphosis delays may be caused by the absence of specific environmental cues that trigger settlement and metamorphosis into appropriate habitats for juvenile growth and survival. Recent evidence suggests that specific trophic signals trigger settlement and metamorphosis in the blue mussel Mytilus edulis - the trophic settlement trigger hypothesis. In the absence of this specific trophic signal, invertebrate larvae may prolong their planktonic life for variable periods of time. Moreover, the range of factors and inducers that influence recruitment in marine invertebrates vary considerably over space and time. However, a comparative study addressing mechanisms underlying such variability is still lacking; this study aims to fill in this gap.