Reproductive biology of the deep-sea octocoral Drifa glomerata in the Northwest Atlantic

Sun, Zhan-Li; Hamel, Jean-François; Edinger, Evan; Mercier, Annie

doi:10.1007/s00227-009-1369-9

Cited by 29 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…A female biased sex ratio is reported in 25 of 56 go nochoric octocoral species including 5 species where male colonies were reported as either absent or extremely rare (Brazeau 1989, Brazeau & Lasker 1989, Vermeire 1994, Chou 2002, Yeung & Ang 2008, Sun et al 2009). A statistically significant male biased sex ratio has been reported in 4 octocoral species (Brazeau 1989, Vermeire 1994, Chou 2002, Yeung & Ang 2008, Sun et al 2010, Mercier & Hamel 2011.…”

Section: Sex Ratiomentioning

confidence: 97%

Sexual reproduction in octocorals

Kahng¹,

Benayahu²,

Lasker³

2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

127

156

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Section: Sex Ratiomentioning

confidence: 97%

Sexual reproduction in octocorals

Kahng¹,

Benayahu²,

Lasker³

2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

127

156

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“…) and some deep‐sea octocorals (Sun et al. ). One commonality among these deep‐sea and tropical/subtropical species that exhibit continuous breeding is low variation in temperature throughout the year.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite shorter breeding periods appearing to dominate among octocoral species from various regions (Kahng et al 2011), year-round breeding and continuous gametogenesis have been reported for some subtropical/tropical (Dahan & Benayahu 1997;Kahng et al 2008) and some deep-sea octocorals (Sun et al 2010). One commonality among these deep-sea and tropical/subtropical species that exhibit continuous breeding is low variation in temperature throughout the year.…”

Section: Reproductive Cyclementioning

confidence: 99%

Reproduction in the Mediterranean endemic gorgonian Spinimuricea klavereni (Anthozoa, Octocorallia, Plexauridae)

Topçu

Öztürk

2016

Invertebrate Biology

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Spinimuricea klavereni is a Mediterranean endemic gorgonian that is rarely encountered, probably because it typically occurs at depths below 50 m. It is exceptionally common in the northern Marmara Sea, with an unusually shallow upper depth limit of ~20 m. The reproductive biology of this species was studied during a one year period off Büyükada, in the northeastern Marmara Sea. Spinimuricea klavereni is a gonochoric broadcast spawner with an almost even sex ratio. Colonies were ~15 cm in height at first reproduction. Gametogenesis was continuous, characterized by high male and female fecundities year‐round. Oocytes and sperm sacs of all developmental stages were found throughout the year, with small‐sized oocytes and sperm sacs dominant throughout the year. The reproduction of S. klavereni did not seem to exhibit any marked seasonal pattern, unlike most other studied Mediterranean octocorals. Modest variation in gamete output was probably related to slight alterations in food availability and temperature. The non‐seasonal reproductive pattern we observed may be related to the low intra‐annual variation in temperature in the Marmara Sea, and the fact that the mesotrophic‐eutrophic level of productivity in the Marmara Sea can support the energetic requirements of continuous gametogenesis in this gorgonian. Whether these patterns are local adaptations or intrinsic characteristics for this Mediterranean endemic species remains to be studied.

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“…Broadcast spawning is present in deep-water reef-building (scleractinian) corals [40], but studies on deep-water soft corals have generally reported gonochoric brooding as the main reproductive strategy [41]–[44]. A recent study based on fecundity analyses proposed that P. resedaeformis may be one of the few deep-water soft coral species to be a gonochoric broadcast spawner [45].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early Life History of Deep-Water Gorgonian Corals May Limit Their Abundance

Lacharité

Meta×as

2013

PLoS ONE

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Deep-water gorgonian corals are long-lived organisms found worldwide off continental margins and seamounts, usually occurring at depths of ∼200–1,000 m. Most corals undergo sexual reproduction by releasing a planktonic larval stage that disperses; however, recruitment rates and the environmental and biological factors influencing recruitment in deep-sea species are poorly known. Here, we present results from a 4-year field experiment conducted in the Gulf of Maine (northwest Atlantic) at depths >650 m that document recruitment for 2 species of deep-water gorgonian corals, Primnoa resedaeformis and Paragorgia arborea. The abundance of P. resedaeformis recruits was high, and influenced by the structural complexity of the recipient habitat, but very few recruits of P. arborea were found. We suggest that divergent reproductive modes (P. resedaeformis as a broadcast spawner and P. arborea as a brooder) may explain this pattern. Despite the high recruitment of P. resedaeformis, severe mortality early on in the benthic stage of this species may limit the abundance of adult colonies. Most recruits of this species (∼80%) were at the primary polyp stage, and less than 1% of recruits were at stage of 4 polyps or more. We propose that biological disturbance, possibly by the presence of suspension-feeding brittle stars, and limited food supply in the deep sea may cause this mortality. Our findings reinforce the vulnerability of these corals to anthropogenic disturbances, such as trawling with mobile gear, and the importance of incorporating knowledge on processes during the early life history stages in conservation decisions.

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Reproductive biology of the deep-sea octocoral Drifa glomerata in the Northwest Atlantic

Cited by 29 publications

References 53 publications

Sexual reproduction in octocorals

Sexual reproduction in octocorals

Reproduction in the Mediterranean endemic gorgonian Spinimuricea klavereni (Anthozoa, Octocorallia, Plexauridae)

Early Life History of Deep-Water Gorgonian Corals May Limit Their Abundance

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