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 rese...
| Published in: | Coral Reefs |
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| Main Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2002
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/1352/ https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/1352/1/Walleretal2002CRFungiacyathus.pdf http://www.swetswise.com/eAccess/viewFulltext.do?articleID=15248709 |
| Summary: | 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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