Abstract/Description/Artist Statement
Accurate measurement of egg size is essential for understanding reproductive investment and developmental patterns in Ophryotrocha labronica, but standard protocols require imaging fresh eggs, limiting sample throughput. This study tested whether short‑term preservation in 4% formalin alters egg size and developed a workflow to support more efficient developmental observations. Egg masses were divided into subsamples and measured after 0, 2, and 7 days of preservation. Using a linear mixed‑effects model, we analyzed 224 eggs from 25 masses to evaluate the effect of preservation time while accounting for variation among clutches. Preservation time had no significant effect on egg size, whereas egg mass identity explained substantial intrinsic variation. These results demonstrate that short‑term preservation does not bias egg measurements, enabling more flexible sampling schedules and higher‑throughput developmental studies. The protocol provides a reliable foundation for future research on reproductive traits and developmental timing in this model species.
Keywords: Egg mass, preservation, protocol, throughput, Ophryotrocha labronica, linear mixed-effects model
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Gloria Massamba-N'Siala
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Email
gmassamb@odu.edu
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department
Biology
College/School Affiliation
College of Sciences
Student Level Group
Graduate/Professional
Presentation Type
Poster
Included in
Protocol for Egg Mass Preservation and Its Efficacy in the Marine Annelids Ophryotrocha labronica
Accurate measurement of egg size is essential for understanding reproductive investment and developmental patterns in Ophryotrocha labronica, but standard protocols require imaging fresh eggs, limiting sample throughput. This study tested whether short‑term preservation in 4% formalin alters egg size and developed a workflow to support more efficient developmental observations. Egg masses were divided into subsamples and measured after 0, 2, and 7 days of preservation. Using a linear mixed‑effects model, we analyzed 224 eggs from 25 masses to evaluate the effect of preservation time while accounting for variation among clutches. Preservation time had no significant effect on egg size, whereas egg mass identity explained substantial intrinsic variation. These results demonstrate that short‑term preservation does not bias egg measurements, enabling more flexible sampling schedules and higher‑throughput developmental studies. The protocol provides a reliable foundation for future research on reproductive traits and developmental timing in this model species.
Keywords: Egg mass, preservation, protocol, throughput, Ophryotrocha labronica, linear mixed-effects model