Gonad morphology and gametogenesis in the deep-sea jellyfish Atolla wyvillei and Periphylla periphylla (Scyphozoa: Coronatae) collected from Cape Hatteras and the Gulf of Mexico
Gonad morphology and gametogenesis in the deep-sea jellyfish Atolla wyvillei and Periphylla periphylla (Scyphozoa: Coronatae) collected from Cape Hatteras and the Gulf of Mexico
Observations on gonad morphology and the structure of ovaries and testes of the coronate scyphozoans Atolla wyvillei and Periphylla periphylla are described based on samples collected from the Gulf of Mexico and Cape Hatteras (north-western Atlantic). In A. wyvillei, gonads of distinguishable sex were observed in medusae as small as 17 mm bell diameter (BD). Spermatogenesis occurred within follicles (average 366 254 mm) that were evenly distributed throughout the gonad. Oocytes in different stages of development were observed in all the females with gonads. Oocytes arise from the gastrodermis and migrate into the mesoglea to develop from early-mid to late vitellogenic oocytes characterized by a large nucleus and granular (organic-rich) cytoplasm. The largest oocytes measured were 543 mm and 263 mm from the Gulf of Mexico and
Cape Hatteras respectively. Possible reasons for this difference are discussed. In P. periphylla gonads were also initially observed in medusae 17 mm BD, although not all larger medusae had obvious gonads. Unlike A. wyvillei sperm follicles were arranged in long convoluted rows normally only one follicle thick. The organization of ooytes in female P. periphylla was very similar to A. wyvillei, although the gonads were small and the number of oocytes present in each gonad very low (,22). The largest oocyte measured was 777 mm in a 53 mm BD medusa. Although medusae were collected from one time period only (September) in this study, our findings appear to be in agreement with literature evidence indicating that coronate jellyfish produce few eggs continuously over a long time period. Aspects of gonad development and gametogenesis are discussed with respect to potential differences in site productivity and species identification.
jellyfish, atolla, periphylla, gametogenesis, oocytes, sperm follicles, continuous reproduction
1095-1104
Lucas, Cathy H.
521743e3-b250-4c6b-b084-780af697d6bf
Reed, Adam
ec734ee2-469c-4259-91d6-4abcfbe65e3b
3 November 2009
Lucas, Cathy H.
521743e3-b250-4c6b-b084-780af697d6bf
Reed, Adam
ec734ee2-469c-4259-91d6-4abcfbe65e3b
Lucas, Cathy H. and Reed, Adam
(2009)
Gonad morphology and gametogenesis in the deep-sea jellyfish Atolla wyvillei and Periphylla periphylla (Scyphozoa: Coronatae) collected from Cape Hatteras and the Gulf of Mexico.
[in special issue: In Honour of Sir Frederick Stratten Russell, FRS]
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 90 (6), .
(doi:10.1017/S0025315409000824).
Abstract
Observations on gonad morphology and the structure of ovaries and testes of the coronate scyphozoans Atolla wyvillei and Periphylla periphylla are described based on samples collected from the Gulf of Mexico and Cape Hatteras (north-western Atlantic). In A. wyvillei, gonads of distinguishable sex were observed in medusae as small as 17 mm bell diameter (BD). Spermatogenesis occurred within follicles (average 366 254 mm) that were evenly distributed throughout the gonad. Oocytes in different stages of development were observed in all the females with gonads. Oocytes arise from the gastrodermis and migrate into the mesoglea to develop from early-mid to late vitellogenic oocytes characterized by a large nucleus and granular (organic-rich) cytoplasm. The largest oocytes measured were 543 mm and 263 mm from the Gulf of Mexico and
Cape Hatteras respectively. Possible reasons for this difference are discussed. In P. periphylla gonads were also initially observed in medusae 17 mm BD, although not all larger medusae had obvious gonads. Unlike A. wyvillei sperm follicles were arranged in long convoluted rows normally only one follicle thick. The organization of ooytes in female P. periphylla was very similar to A. wyvillei, although the gonads were small and the number of oocytes present in each gonad very low (,22). The largest oocyte measured was 777 mm in a 53 mm BD medusa. Although medusae were collected from one time period only (September) in this study, our findings appear to be in agreement with literature evidence indicating that coronate jellyfish produce few eggs continuously over a long time period. Aspects of gonad development and gametogenesis are discussed with respect to potential differences in site productivity and species identification.
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Published date: 3 November 2009
Keywords:
jellyfish, atolla, periphylla, gametogenesis, oocytes, sperm follicles, continuous reproduction
Organisations:
Ocean and Earth Science
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 164755
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/164755
ISSN: 0025-3154
PURE UUID: 51d689d1-420f-40ef-8342-0e4ac60d77f2
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Date deposited: 04 Oct 2010 10:10
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:37
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