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An Exploratory Review on the Molecular Mechanisms of Diapause Termination in the Waterflea, Daphnia

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Dormancy and Resistance in Harsh Environments

Part of the book series: Topics in Current Genetics ((TCG,volume 21))

Abstract

The production of dormant stages is a key trait in many organisms, including those animals that inhabit freshwater systems. Dormancy has important ecological and evolutionary consequences, and traits related to induction of dormancy, survival during the dormant state, and termination of dormancy are likely to be under strong selection and may profoundly impact the dynamics of natural populations. Insight into the biochemical pathways that lead to diapause termination may allow more efficient hatching of dormant stages, which is currently a major bottleneck in many experimental studies and applications. We review the current knowledge on the biochemical pathways leading to the termination of dormancy in the waterflea, Daphnia. Even though Daphnia is a key model organism in ecology, evolution, and ecotoxicology, there is surprisingly little known about the mechanistic underpinnings of diapause termination. We provide a general but still hypothetical scheme on potential biochemical pathways that may be involved in diapause termination in Daphnia, largely based on studies that were carried out on related organisms, and suggest approaches for future research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Ch. Deberiotstraat 32, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Evelyne Vanvlasselaer & Luc De Meester

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  1. Evelyne Vanvlasselaer
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  2. Luc De Meester
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Re, Haifa, 31080, Israel

    Esther Lubzens

  2. Tecnologia Agroalimentaries, Center of Aquaculture, IRTA Institut de Recerca i, Ctra. Poble Nou km 6, San Carlos de la Rapita, 43540, Spain

    Joan Cerda

  3. , Ecosystems, British Antarctic Survey, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, United Kingdom

    Melody Clark

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Vanvlasselaer, E., De Meester, L. (2010). An Exploratory Review on the Molecular Mechanisms of Diapause Termination in the Waterflea, Daphnia . In: Lubzens, E., Cerda, J., Clark, M. (eds) Dormancy and Resistance in Harsh Environments. Topics in Current Genetics, vol 21. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-12422-8_11

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