Reproductive ecology of the deep-sea scleractinian coral Fungiacyathus marenzelleri (Vaughan, 1906) in the northeast Atlantic Ocean
Reproductive ecology of the deep-sea scleractinian coral Fungiacyathus marenzelleri (Vaughan, 1906) in the northeast Atlantic Ocean
The reproductive biology and its seasonality were examined in the deep-water, solitary coral Fungiacyathus marenzelleri from 2,200 m depth in the NE Atlantic, using histological techniques. A total of 186 corals were collected using either an Otter trawl (semi-balloon) or Agassiz trawl from the research vessel RRS Challenger between 1979 and 1991. All individuals were gonochoric, with all 48 mesenteries being fertile. A high fecundity was recorded (2,892 ±44.4 oocytes per polyp) with strong size-dependency. This species is a quasi-continuous reproducer with overlapping gametogenesis for both spermacysts and oocytes. No planulae were observed and broadcasting of gametes is inferred, with the large egg size (max. 750-µm diameter) suggesting lecithotrophic development. There is a non-significant trend towards a synchronous spawning event during June/July. Asexual fission was observed, though in low numbers.
Ahermatypic, Azooxanthellate, Solitary coral, Gametogenesis
325-331
Waller, R.G.
8869fbf2-be97-4ec2-9aee-8e934762b145
Tyler, P.A.
d1965388-38cc-4c1d-9217-d59dba4dd7f8
Gage, J.D.
05b32e98-9bc2-4110-bec7-1d815c85c7b0
2002
Waller, R.G.
8869fbf2-be97-4ec2-9aee-8e934762b145
Tyler, P.A.
d1965388-38cc-4c1d-9217-d59dba4dd7f8
Gage, J.D.
05b32e98-9bc2-4110-bec7-1d815c85c7b0
Waller, R.G., Tyler, P.A. and Gage, J.D.
(2002)
Reproductive ecology of the deep-sea scleractinian coral Fungiacyathus marenzelleri (Vaughan, 1906) in the northeast Atlantic Ocean.
Coral Reefs, 21 (4), .
(doi:10.1007/s00338-002-0252-7).
Abstract
The reproductive biology and its seasonality were examined in the deep-water, solitary coral Fungiacyathus marenzelleri from 2,200 m depth in the NE Atlantic, using histological techniques. A total of 186 corals were collected using either an Otter trawl (semi-balloon) or Agassiz trawl from the research vessel RRS Challenger between 1979 and 1991. All individuals were gonochoric, with all 48 mesenteries being fertile. A high fecundity was recorded (2,892 ±44.4 oocytes per polyp) with strong size-dependency. This species is a quasi-continuous reproducer with overlapping gametogenesis for both spermacysts and oocytes. No planulae were observed and broadcasting of gametes is inferred, with the large egg size (max. 750-µm diameter) suggesting lecithotrophic development. There is a non-significant trend towards a synchronous spawning event during June/July. Asexual fission was observed, though in low numbers.
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Published date: 2002
Keywords:
Ahermatypic, Azooxanthellate, Solitary coral, Gametogenesis
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Local EPrints ID: 1352
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/1352
ISSN: 0722-4028
PURE UUID: f57a1c89-aaf9-41be-9011-ef91f9bc14c4
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Date deposited: 20 Apr 2004
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 04:43
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Author:
R.G. Waller
Author:
J.D. Gage
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