Predators Induce Cloning in Echinoderm Larvae

@article{Vaughn2008PredatorsIC,
  title={Predators Induce Cloning in Echinoderm Larvae},
  author={Dawn Vaughn and Richard R. Strathmann},
  journal={Science},
  year={2008},
  volume={319},
  pages={1503 - 1503}
}
Asexual propagation (cloning) is a widespread reproductive strategy of plants and animals. Although larval cloning is well documented in echinoderms, identified stimuli for cloning are limited to those associated with conditions favorable for growth and reproduction. Our research shows that larvae of the sand dollar Dendraster excentricus also clone in response to cues from predators. Predator-induced clones were smaller than uncloned larvae, suggesting an advantage against visual predators… 
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55 Citations

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Materials and methods are available on Science Online

    Britt for collecting the fish predators used in this study; and K. Vaughn for assistance. Funding was provided by the Friday Harbor Laboratories and NSF (grant OCE0623102)

      Strathmann for discussion