Sexual reproduction in octocorals

Kahng, Samuel E.; Benayahu, Yehuda; Lasker, Howard R.

doi:10.3354/meps09414

Cited by 127 publications

(180 citation statements)

References 106 publications

(108 reference statements)

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“…These foundation species create habitat for numerous other species and are long-lived and slow-growing [13,14]. Most species reproduce sexually either by broadcast spawning or brooding [15]. Brooding of larvae can occur internally within the polyps or externally on the surface of the colonies [16,17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing the depth-differentiation hypothesis in a deepwater octocoral

et al. 2015

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The depth-differentiation hypothesis proposes that the bathyal region is a source of genetic diversity and an area where there is a high rate of species formation. Genetic differentiation should thus occur over relatively small vertical distances, particularly along the upper continental slope (200-1000 m) where oceanography varies greatly over small differences in depth. To test whether genetic differentiation within deepwater octocorals is greater over vertical rather than geographical distances, Callogorgia delta was targeted. This species commonly occurs throughout the northern Gulf of Mexico at depths ranging from 400 to 900 m. We found significant genetic differentiation (F ST ¼ 0.042) across seven sites spanning 400 km of distance and 400 m of depth. A pattern of isolation by depth emerged, but geographical distance between sites may further limit gene flow. Water mass boundaries may serve to isolate populations across depth; however, adaptive divergence with depth is also a possible scenario. Microsatellite markers also revealed significant genetic differentiation (F ST ¼ 0.434) between C. delta and a closely related species, Callogorgia americana, demonstrating the utility of microsatellites in species delimitation of octocorals. Results provided support for the depthdifferentiation hypothesis, strengthening the notion that factors covarying with depth serve as isolation mechanisms in deep-sea populations.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing the depth-differentiation hypothesis in a deepwater octocoral

et al. 2015

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“…Similar to several other Alcyonium species (6 out of 12, according to Kahng et al 2011), A. coralloides is a gonochoric species (Groot & Weinberg 1982). Gonochorism is the most common reproductive strategy in Octocorallia (70% according to Kahng et al 2011), while hermaphroditism is the most common pattern among tropical scleractinian hexacorals (Har ri son & Wallace 1990, Kahng et al 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…For the first time, we describe the main quantitative parameters of the sexual reproductive cycle of Alcyonium corallo ides and compare them to those of other littoral octo coral species. The genus Alcyonium presents a wide diversity of patterns in the mode of reproduction and sexuality (McFadden et al 2001, Kahng et al 2011. However, little is known about the sexual reproduction of these anthozoans, which play an essential role in benthic communities , Fautin 2002.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual reproductive cycle of the epibiotic soft coral Alcyonium coralloides (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea)

Quintanilla¹,

Gili²,

López–González³

et al. 2013

Aquat. Biol.

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Alcyonium coralloides is an epibiotic soft coral overgrowing living colonies of Mediterranean gorgonians. The main features of the sexual reproductive cycle of this soft coral species are described and quantified for the first time, in a population found at 18 to 22 m depth off the Medes Islands (NW Mediterranean). A. coralloides is a gonochoric internal brooder. The sexual cycle showed a single reproductive event per year. Gametogenesis took 5 to 6 mo, which is the shortest known gametogenesis in littoral octocorals (especially for oogenesis). The maximum mean ± SD diameter was 365 ± 86 µm for spermatic cysts and 632 ± 125 µm for mature oocytes. Sperm was released in spring (late May). Average male and female fecundity in this last phase of the cycle was 15 ± 9 spermatic cysts and 7 ± 4 oocytes per polyp, respectively. Larvae of about 1000 µm in length were observed in the gastrovascular cavities of female colonies in May, before they were released in June. We suggest that the remarkable short gametogenesis and timing shown by A. coralloides is an adaptation to optimize the colonization of its host (in this case the gorgonian octocoral Paramuricea clavata). We conclude that A. coralloides larvae could be ready to settle in early summer when the host P. clavata is probably more vulnerable as a result of its own reproductive cycle coming to an end.

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“…Overall, Sardinian red coral samples were always gonochoric and followed the general pattern found within octocorals (Kahng et al, 2011) where 87% of species studied to date (n = 133) are totally dioecious with a very low incidence of hermaphroditism (<< 1%) (Benayahu & Loya, 1984;McFadden, 1991;Coma et al, 1995;Kruger et al, 1998;McFadden, 2001;Priori et al, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive patterns in deep versus shallow populations of the precious Mediterranean gorgonian Corallium rubrum (Linnaeus, 1758) (Sardinia, central-western Mediterranean)

Porcu¹,

Follesa²,

Cannas³

et al. 2017

Medit. Mar. Sci.

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This study quantifies the main reproductive features of the long-lived red coral Corallium rubrum, an octocoral endemic to the Mediterranean Sea and neighboring Atlantic areas and one of the most valuable of all marine species, at different depths (38-40 m versus 96-115 m) in north-western Sardinian waters (Central-Western Mediterranean Sea). Different population structures between depths were observed with shallow colonies smaller (in basal diameter and height) than deeper ones. Both populations were all gonochoric at polyp and colony level and fertile. The sex-ratio was balanced in the deep red corals while in the shallow ones it was significantly biased towards female probably in response to perturbations such as mass mortality events more common at shallow levels. Deep and shallow colonies were found to have a synchronous female sexual products development in the two depths investigated. C. rubrum produced large female sexual products in both depth intervals in relationship with its reproductive mode, confirming a long oogenic development. In contrast to reproductive timing, the volume occupied by female sexual products per polyp was different between the populations, being higher in the deep than in the shallow populations. C. rubrum exhibited a reproductive strategy characterized by a relative low number of female sexual products per polyp revealing significant differences among the two depth ranges analyzed with a lower mean value of sexual products in the shallow colonies (mean fecundity per polyp: 1.14) than in the deeper ones (mean fecundity per polyp: 2.09). These results indicate differences in reproductive parameters such as sexual products distribution and reproductive output (fecundity) were observed between shallow and deep populations of C. rubrum, in particular within deep dwelling populations.

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Sexual reproduction in octocorals

Cited by 127 publications

References 106 publications

Testing the depth-differentiation hypothesis in a deepwater octocoral

Testing the depth-differentiation hypothesis in a deepwater octocoral

Sexual reproductive cycle of the epibiotic soft coral Alcyonium coralloides (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea)

Reproductive patterns in deep versus shallow populations of the precious Mediterranean gorgonian Corallium rubrum (Linnaeus, 1758) (Sardinia, central-western Mediterranean)

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