Biology subjects

Lonnum, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Lonnum, M..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Dispersal behavior in a cold-water coral is orchestrated via stage and species-specific physiology.

Corals form important ecosystems that serve as habitat for numerous marine species. Being sessile, adult corals are exposed to changing environments without the means to relocate. Species dispersal is therefore restricted to the motile larval lifestage. How do microscopic larvae achieve reliable dispersal and conquest of novel habitats under time pressure and unpredictable environmental conditions? Here we show an unexpected diversity of behaviors in the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa. Anatomical and behavioral changes of coral planula promote a change from neutral, passive buoyancy in the dispersal phase, to active swimming and search behavior during competency. As lipids are metabolized and sensory abilities develop, the coral larvae drastically change their motility patterns. Comparative analysis with a poorly dispersing, lecithotrophic anthozoan larvae reveals that developmentally timed sensory integration is conserved between species, but the behavioral modes and sensory responses are adapted to their particular ecology.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Developmentally timed sensory integration enables efficient larval dispersal

Animals integrate internal and external sensory information to adjust movement gait according to the physical constraints imposed by body-environment interactions. Efficient locomotion is especially important in small organisms where the motile phase is ontogenetically restricted. Motile larvae of otherwise sessile cnidarians must disperse and identify a suitable habitat in a restricted timeframe. Here we show that dispersal in Nematostella vectensis larvae is accomplished by a constant ciliary sensory-motor system that produces stimulus-induced movement. In contrast, neuro-muscular and sensory systems gradually increase in complexity during development, enabling movement-associated gait control through reafferent matching of external and internal information. Together with ciliary propulsion, the developmentally timed appearance of sensory and neuronal structures endows the animal with the ability to integrate information to shape swimming behavior and achieve dispersal in a timely manner, appropriate to the physical challenges of its specific ecological niche.

neuroscience↗